The author gives tours of Paris for Fun! Who better would know the ins and outs of a place with such an important place in global identity? (Of extraterrestials interviewed, their top five Earth cities, 89% name Paris in that number. . . .jk) The author's text, combined with the illustrations of Jennifer Court have provided curious readers this treat for indulging their day dreams of Paris.

As a firm believer in letting a book speak for itself I give you a sampling of -

TABLE OF CONTENTS (each of these sections are drilled down further to interesting and odd specificities about the land, history, aspects, communities and smidges and dabs known only to insiders of Paris)
-Art and Culture
-Food and Drink
-History
-In The Shadows
-Ways of Life

INDEX (there is so much more, I share only a smidge)
absinthe 77-8; Alexander I, 71
Basquiat, Jean-Michel 189; boules 193, brocante 179-82
Chevalier, Maurice 122; choux pastry, 71, 74
dames pipis 137-9; Dumas, Alexandre, 97-8
Eiffel, Gustave 54, 56, 57; exploring after dark 158-61
French v English 195-8; Fuller, Loie, 24
Godard, Jeau-Luc 19-21, et al; gypsum 51
Heloise, 170-1; hot chocolate 83-4, 85
Ingres, Jean-Auguste-Dominique 7; Iris, Agence 150-1
Jardins d'Acclimatation 68; John, Elton 129
Khruschchev, Nikita 79-80
Lavatory de la Madeleine 139; Liszt, Franz 7
metrication 174-6; Montparnasse 51, 59, 143, 146
Notre-Dame 47-50,56; Nuit Blanche 158-9
Opera de Paris 25-8; opium 8, 134-6
Parker, Charlie 'Bird' 39; pastries 71-4
Queneau, Raymond 43
Ray, Man 45, 46; rum 76-7
snails 64-6; Le Sphinx 153, 157
tennis 182-6; tips 176-8; tunnels 59, 61
Unik, Pierre 43
VanGogh, Vincent 105,143; Verne Jules 174-5, 188
waiters and waiting 89-91; Wren, Christopher 21
Yves San Laurent 181
Zola, Emile 26, 105

An informative and amusing read, one I would take with me on a trip to that legendary city. Truthfully, though, my days are numbered for sure and I doubt I'll be able to make such a trip - and having this book helps me feel ok about that, as it at least suggests to me many aspects to research, read and google about related to this Great Lady of France - Herself, PARIS!

*A sincere thank you to John Baxter, Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review.* Pub date: 06.25.2024

Interesting but not what I expected! I think I thought there would be more recommendations on unexpected parts of Paris.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this overall. I am going to Paris for the second time in a little over a month and so I was eager to read about the city. Some sections really didn’t hit for me, I just didn’t care, while others were really interesting. My favorite section was definitely the food and drink section, which had info on escargots, little songbirds that are now illegal to eat, cocktails, and bread. I also really appreciated the explanation of tipping culture!

What a very interesting book by John Baxter....not my usual type of reading but I love Paris and it's history....and I wasn't disappointed.
John shared tales from all walks of Paris which are very different from normal books on Paris.

I found it very informative and thoroughly interesting.

I'm would recommend it.

Everything you really want to know about Paris can be found in this compelling resource by travel writer and resident John Baxter. The illustrations perfectly capture the city, as does the lively witty prose.

In his intro, Baxter explains: "Many people who visit Paris will return home with nothing but sore feet and an Eiffel Tower paperweight. The lucky ones will have experienced at least a glimpse and a taste of this most fascinating and intricate of cities. Enough, at least, to be able to say, in that most evocatively nostalgic of phrases 'I remember ... once ... in Paris.' I hope this book helps!"

For this reader and many others who long to visit or return, it truly does. Highly recommended!

This was a really interesting book that does exactly what it says on the tin. It is the untold story of Paris - anecdotes that won't be found in the general tourist guides. It was all easy to follow and digest and sliced up into bite-size and related sections. Very easy, sooth read.

When I visited Paris for the first time I cried when I left. That is how hard it was to leave a place that I had so long wanted to visit. The streets, the museums, the cafes, the Seince-I truly could not believe that I was there.

We may be hearing a lot about Paris this year because of the Olympics. Much will be highlighted. However, to learn intimately about the City of Light, readers would do well to pick up a copy of Untold Paris. It is written by someone with a deep insider’s knowledge of the city.

The title is divided into sections on Art and Culture, Food and Drink, History, In the Shadows and Ways of Life. Just some of the subheadings include Cafes and Literature, Eiffel and His Monument, The Art of French Pastry, The German Occupation, The Girl in the Champagne Bath, French vs English and so much more.

This eclectic guide is illustrated with some lovely drawings. They enhance the pleasure of the book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

A colorful assortment of topics about Paris, each a few pages long. You won't read about the museums here, but you will learn about cocktails, jazz, Paris waiters, the Paris Commune of 1871, Hemingway, Roland Garros, Josephine Baker, cobblestones, and snails. Subjects range from British Royalty in Paris to pissoirs and dog poop. You can read this a few minutes at a time or all in one go, or dip into it randomly. Perfect airplane book. (Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital review copy.)

This is a lovely book for those who wish to delve into the story of Paris a bit more - great for newcomers, tourists who wish to go off the beaten track, foodies, artists, those interested in history and literature. It is engaging and the stylish illustrations are a bonus.

I really love Paris. I think most people don't realize how affordable it can be -- I used to spend less money taking a trip to Paris than my friends did taking trips in the country. There is so much to see and so much energy.
What makes this book fun is that I learned a lot of things I didn't know about the history of some of the places in Paris. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

It was amazing to read this and to learn more about Pars especially beyond the general touristy information.