Comments on: Tonight we're gonna party like it's 1899...

Question: Tonight we're gonna party like it's 1899...

judith — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 11:15:36 -0800

I'm looking for books (in English) about Paris in 1899 for a research project. General cultural history is fine, as is a slightly broader period (1890-1910), but I'm looking for more than just a section in a larger French history book. Ideally, I'd find something like Margaret MacMillan's Paris 1919, but for 1899. I'm having difficulty finding something this specific via Google/Amazon/the library, as there are thousands of listings for "Paris", so I'm hoping you'll recommend books you've enjoyed or found useful.

By: Bromius

Bromius — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 11:42:01 -0800

Off the top of my head, the only thing that I can think of is Barbara Tuchman's The Proud Tower, an overview of Britain, the U.S., France and Germany from the turn of the century through WWI. As I recall, the France sections focus mainly on the Dreyfus Affair, but there may be some useful kernels to be gleaned.

By: scody

scody — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 11:57:58 -0800

Its focus is more mid-19th century Paris and it's certainly not a standard history, by any means, but Walter Benajmin's Arcades Project might yield some gems for you.

By: Methylviolet

Methylviolet — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 12:01:40 -0800

Zola.
I read The Ladies' Paradise (1883) for a 19th century European history class, and a few others since. Fiction, but very good at showing daily life during the period.

By: judith

judith — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 12:02:39 -0800

Yeah, I'm a big fan of Benjamin & have a copy of the Arcades Project on my desk. I've also got a number of other "cultural history of modernity" type stuff, but am looking more specifically for a sense of what actually took place in Paris in that short period right around the turn of the century.

By: Ironmouth

Ironmouth — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 12:33:27 -0800

The Banquet Years by Roger Shattuck deals with the period 1885-1914.

By: Ironmouth

Ironmouth — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 12:48:33 -0800

I'd also suggest the volumes on France by Theodore Zeldin.

By: citron

citron — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 17:32:52 -0800

Les Lieux de mémoire, Pierre Nora - magisterial - bound to have something of interest! I believe the whole thing is translated into English now.

By: TheRaven

TheRaven — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 18:34:44 -0800

I can suggest France, Fin de Siècle

By: Falconetti

Falconetti — Sat, 07 Jul 2007 18:59:15 -0800

I second The Banquet Years for a cultural history of the nascent avant-garde during that time period. It may be too focused for what you want, though.