Paris

The Novel

From the grand master of the historical novel comes a dazzling, epic portrait of the City of Light

Internationally bestselling author Edward Rutherfurd has enchanted millions of readers with his sweeping, multigenerational dramas that illuminate the great achievements and travails throughout history. In this breathtaking saga of love, war, art, and intrigue, Rutherfurd has set his sights on the most magnificent city in the world: Paris.

Moving back and forth in time across centuries, the story unfolds through intimate and vivid tales of self-discovery, divided loyalties , passion, and long-kept secrets of characters both fictional and real, all set against the backdrop of the glorious city—from the building of Notre Dame to the dangerous machinations of Cardinal Richlieu; from the glittering court of Versailles to the violence of the French Revolution and the Paris Commune; from the hedonism of the Belle Époque, the heyday of the impressionists, to the tragedy of the First World War; from the 1920s when the writers of the Lost Generation could be found drinking at Les Deux Magots to the Nazi occupation, the heroic efforts of the French Resistance, and the 1968 student revolt.

With his unrivaled blend of impeccable research and narrative verve, Rutherfurd weaves an extraordinary narrative tapestry that captures all the glory of Paris. More richly detailed, more thrilling, and more romantic then anything Rutherfurd has written before, Paris: The Novel wonderfully illuminates hundreds of years in the City of Light and Love and brings the sights, scents, and tastes of Paris to sumptuous life.

Great!

The characters really pulled me in and the connections between families and generations were interwoven in a masterful manner

Good easy to read storied history of Paris.

Not great literature, bull still enjoyable. An easy way to learn French History. Recommend it.

Great writing and recording

Very inspiring story with so many moving parts that it takes an effort to keep track of all events and families. Paris is definitely a city to love. The fictitious families feel so real and relevant it’s hard to imagine the story is fictional.
Highly recommend to this loving history fiction

Great read before your trip to France!

Any additional comments?

A wonderful overview of the history of Paris! It is a challenge to keep track of the characters and the sequence of timing as the book jumps back and forth. It can be done and you are rewarded with a good understanding of Paris. I enjoyed this book and it made my Paris visit more meaningful. The narrator is a delight.

Good Story

I very much liked this story. As with other reviews, the moving between periods does not work as well in a audible book format. It would probably work better when reading. I struggled with the performance initially, because it took time to get used to a female perform male voices. HOWEVER, over time I really enjoyed the performance and now reflect very positively on her narration. If you struggle, as I did, at the beginning with the performance my recommendation is to carry on and will become an endearing narrative voice.