ebooks Opening Act; The: Canadian Theatre History 1945ndash;1956 by Susan McNicoll in Arts-Photography

Review

64 of 65 people found the following review helpful. How Paris became Paris became Paris became Paris became Paris became Paris became Paris..........ad infinitum.By Le StrygeI freely admit I will read/watch just about anything that has Paris as its subject; or even uses that city as a background; but this book took me ages to finish. (A highly unusual situation for me it must be said!)So constantly I got the feeling that I was just reading the same page over again.The author knows her material; and presents it in quite a conversational tone but repeats and repeats similar anecdotes and facts until you get this odd feeling of deacute;jagrave; vu .Yes Paris may have been innovative in so many ways but again and again we are told this and she lauds the praises of that particular city so constantly that even I became more than a little bored; ...and I hasten to add that Paris is my very favourite city in the world!Each chapter is devoted to another area or field where Paris apparently "led the way" in becoming "modern".Now theres next to nothing on the very extensive work carried out under the direction of Baron Haussmann at all; ...everything here takes place in the 16th/17th centuries and basically starts off with the removal of the surrounding defensive walls; the building of the Pont Neuf with footpaths; Place des Vosges; Place Vendome; and the development of the up until then barren Ile St. Louis.She charts the rise of shops and also what we would call "developers" and "financiers"; but I think they were probably more like astute speculators than anything else.Oh; and she does harp on (and on!) about the streets being "lit"; ...but as this was only by single candles; suspended one to a street so I dont think the "city of light" was all that bright for quite some time.Still I suppose it was an innovation; but the very dim effects of guttering candles would hardly have done much to stop street crime (and the cloak-stealing!) as she so often asserts.After that the author seems to consider Paris to be "modern"; despite the fact that it was still largely composed of rat-infested medieval slums that had to be completely demolished and rebuilt before Paris began to look anything at all like what we see today.The large open square or parvis we now see directly in front of Nocirc;tre Dame Cathedral being one of the very worst places for squalid overcrowded pest holes. Its current open appearance is entirely due to Haussmann.I enjoyed some of the information here but only up to a point.What the book needed was a firmer hand with the editing to remove so much of the repetition which I notice has also been remarked upon by most of the other reviews here.Yes there are quite a lot of very interesting facts if you happen to be into the detailed history of Paris; but if you are just an intending tourist looking for some light background in preparation for a forthcoming trip; then this is far too weighty and dry for your purpose.Im giving it three stars; which pains me a bit because it was a valiant attempt; (AND its about Paris too); but the presentation is just a little too academic and the writing itself comes perilously close to appearing biased. And all too often it relies on re-hashing the same statements again and again.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The evolution of a great city. . . .By Steven PetersonI did not know quite what to expect when I ordered this book. But the blurbs made this volume sound intriguing.Before the late 1500s; Paris was; as the author notes (page 4); "that urban disaster." From 1597 to 1700; though; the city was transformed. The countrys leaders called upon architects and other specialists to apply contemporary technology and knowledge to create a better city. This book focuses on some key changes over time--physical; economic; and cultural--to explain "How Paris Became Paris;" a modern city.Henri IV presided over the completion of Pont Neuf (the work began under an earlier King); a radical approach to making a bridge into a public place. It rapidly became a centerpiece for citizens of the city. Henri IV became committed to making Paris a better place; a more exciting and dynamic venue. Through Louis XIV; and even beyond; French kings expended labor and funding; even wealthy financiers became major actors in supporting construction.Each chapter in this book explores a distinct element in the process of making Paris Paris. The first chapter considers the impact of the Pont Neuf. Chapter two examines the construction of Place Royale now; Place des Vosges). Chapter 3? Ile Saint-Louis. Chapter five summarizes major public works--boulevards; streets; and parks (Chapter four describes political turmoil--relevant as it slowed progress in the citys transformation). Chapter six speaks of the introduction of lighting and better transportation and the impact of these. The remaining chapters move away from infrastructure and the physical changes to more cultural aspects: culture and fashion and shopping consume chapter seven; chapter 8 delves in to the financial world; chapter nine is entitled "City of Romance." The final chapter steps back; noting the new physical developments in Paris with Baron Haussmann in the mid-1850s. Then; the author goes back to summarize and contextualize the impressive development from the late 1500s to 1700; using objets dart.What is fascinating about this book is how a detailed case study of the various topics examined creates such a dynamic story of how Paris evolved over time. I have been to Ile Saint-Louis and had no concept that this was; in essence; a planned community; designed to develop an undeveloped area in Paris. Thus; the story in this book enriches an understanding of Paris.All in all; an excellent work.5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. This should be a television seriesBy Ralph D.This is a well researched and revealing book about the invention of the modern city. Interestingly; almost every impression that i had of Paris - a hub of fashion and culture; a vibrant walkable city; a place to be seen; a city of romance - all began in the 17th century. The vision of Henry V and Louis XIV was remarkably influential on moving the architecture of Paris out of the middle ages - and subsequently influenced the expansion of many more great cities. There are many "firsts" in Paris. If you want the Cliff Notes version; reading the first and last chapters will give you an overview of the book - but dont miss the detail on the Pont Neuf which was the true genesis of Paris as a travel destination outside of places with great antiquities such as Rome; the creation of what was intended to be the first truly social space; The Place Royal and Henry Vs its other intended purpose to rival Italy as the textile capital of Europe; the revolutionary tearing down of the medieval walls around the city to announce Paris openness to the world; the development of the first public street light and public transport system; the creation of more retail spaces and Paris birth as the fashion capital of the world; the birth of self-made men; and how 17th century finance worked. There is interesting etymology throughout and lots of interesting stories and illustrations from the period. This books premise would make an interesting television series.