At the Edge of Paris

A History of the Flea Market That Captured the World

De: Julien Peltier

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

Hidden beyond the grand boulevards and glittering monuments lies a Paris most tourists never see—a wild, magnetic world built from castoffs, secrets, and survival. Welcome to the flea market of Saint-Ouen, the sprawling, legendary marketplace where ragpickers became rebels, collectors became kings, and the forgotten objects of history found new life.

For more than 150 years, the Puces has been a crossroads of humanity: a refuge for the poor, a paradise for artists, a hunting ground for designers, a black-market artery during wartime, and a living museum of craftsmanship in an age obsessed with the new.

This is the untold story of the market that shaped modern Paris—and captured the imagination of the world.

In this sweeping historical epic, you’ll discover:

• The birth of the ragpickers, the city’s original recyclers

• Bohemian dealers and eccentric collectors who built an empire from the edges

• Scandals, art theft, and wartime secrets buried deep within Saint-Ouen’s alleys

• The arrival of Americans, from GIs to Hollywood decorators

• The rise of design, when “junk” became modern treasure

• The global boom, as Japanese buyers, fashion icons, and tastemakers transformed the market

• The 21st-century rebirth, powered by sustainability, restoration, and a new generation of makers

Richly detailed and brilliantly told, At the Edge of Paris reveals how the world’s most famous flea market survived revolutions, wars, fakes, crime rings, gentrification, and the digital age—only to become a model for the future of sustainable living.

If you love Erik Larson, David McCullough, Ross King, or The Devil in the White City, you will devour this immersive journey into a world where every object has a past, every dealer has a story, and every alleyway leads deeper into the hidden soul of Paris.

Step into the market.

Nothing here is ordinary.

Everything is alive.