Paris to the Past

Traveling Through French History by Train

By: Ina Caro

Narrated by: Christa Lewis

Length: 14 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

In one of the most inventive travel books in years, Ina Caro invites listeners on 25 one-day train trips that depart from Paris and transport us back through 700 years of French history. Whether taking us to Orléans to evoke the visions of Joan of Arc or to the Place de la Concorde to witness the beheading of Marie Antoinette, Caro animates history with her lush descriptions of architectural splendors and tales of court intrigue. “[An] enchanting travelogue” (Publishers Weekly), Paris to the Past has become one of the classic guidebooks of our time.

©2011 Ina Caro (P)2013 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"I’d rather go to France with Ina Caro than with Henry Adams or Henry James." (Newsweek)

loved it

Would you listen to Paris to the Past again? Why?

I liked it so much that I bought the book. I've been to France without understanding the history. Now I am going back and this book has given me a great deal of insight

Day Trip From Paris?... Look No Further!

It’s a first hand account of the author’s travels through France, most sights and destinations are within a 90-minute radius from Paris, all accessible either by metro or train (regional train or fast train / TGV). The destinations are set up in chronological order in an attempt to educate the reader a bit about French History – it works! It’s a wonderful guidebook – although not the type you’d carry around with you.

Perhaps it’s because I am planning a trip to Paris for next spring and I am all ears when it comes to suggestions that I was so enamoured by this book, but I think anyone could benefit from the ideas presented.

You can be sure this book will be a resource for every trip to France I ever make! The entire thing was interesting, but I really perked up when it covered places I’d already visited (most of Paris, Versailles, Fontainebleau, Chartres and Rouen) or the parts that cover things I plan to see and do on my next trip (more of Paris, Tours and Lyon).

It was a great book, and excellent idea, and a lot of fun to read! Can’t wait to get over there and follow in her footsteps!

Paris to the Past is wonderful! The reader is not so good

The reader makes the lovely Ina seem pompous -- which she clearly is not — and does this wonderful book a disservice. Her pronunciation of French is awful - mainly because she seems to actually believe it is competent. But she misses the mark by so much. I can barely understand her showy attempts to pronounce words “properly”, uttering sounds I’ve never heard in any language. So embarrassing. I would rather have had a reader proficient in French or someone who didn’t pretend to be, rather than someone who apparently unknowingly has failed so miserably. Nonetheless the content is worth putting up with the annoyance.

Wonderful stories of incredible people & places

This is the perfect book to have in your arsenal when planning a trip to Paris/France! Such great storytelling (and gossip) about the epic people,places, art, and food that one finds when travelling by way of French history. I can't wait to go to these places. Caro has truly whet my appetite and I am certain my travel experiences will be much richer because of each and every one of her lovely and thoroughly researched chapters.

One of the two best books on France I know

One of the two best books on France I know. The other is Ina Caros book the road through history the predecessor to this book. If you are traveling to France or enjoy France you will love this book.

Great listen!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I thought this book was so well done. It's done in chronological order and follows the same families throughout history while you also get general history about the town and castles she is visiting.

What did you like best about this story?

All the fun facts about the royal families she talks about.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me laugh at times, but mostly it just made me happy. Every time I listened to it, it was like I was traveling through time with the author and traveling to France.

Any additional comments?

Great read, I really enjoyed it!

Great book

Great book and story but the constant mispronouncing of words like Notre Dame made it hard to get past

History comes to life

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I love the history but am really quite uninterested in where the picnics happened, or which restaurants were eaten in. In this respect, I found the juxtaposition of personal preference for one diner over another very distracting. However, I used the historical information to plan a number of day trips when I was staying in Paris. I feel there should be two editions and I would prefer the abridged one with the non historical detail taken out.

Would you be willing to try another book from Ina Caro? Why or why not?

Also purchased Roads to the Past (hard copy) and used it as the basis for exploring the Loire

What aspect of Christa Lewis’s performance would you have changed?

Some of her French pronunciation was difficult

Did Paris to the Past inspire you to do anything?

Visited a number of the places after listening - including Chartres and Vincennes, and are planning quite a number of others in our next trip

Outstanding Guide to Paris/Environs

My husband and I are "fired up" for another trip to Paris, from our Audible readings of two books related to the history and historic locations of interesting sites to visit for interesting day trips on the high speed trains, out of various Paris stations.

Ina Carow and her husband now live in Paris, and she is a scholar of history, an organized and savvy traveler with a wealth of highly interesting and informative historic stories to share - from North, South, East and West of the city.

I have found so much relevant information from which to build a framework for our upcoming visit and selected travels - ("off- season", on purpose - that our schedule and itineraries can be focused toward our interests, well-informed, and manageable - including spots (restaurants) and "best-kept secrets" in each visit.

She writes well, and the narrator speaks French with a fluid and competent vocabulary and pronounciation.

Generation / Culture gap

I had high expectations for this book and plan to go through it again when I understand French history better. I cannot specifically say there was anything wrong with the book, but I kept feeling like it was my uptight great aunt taking me through France. I didn't get any of the romance of France within the pages. It left me a bit flat, but it could be personal. I'm a historian and such things don't usually bother me.