Synopses & Reviews
Elaine Sciolino, the former Paris bureau chief of the , invites us on a tour of her favorite Parisian street. "I can never be sad on the rue des Martyrs," Sciolino explains, as she celebrates the neighborhood's rich history and vibrant lives. While many cities suffer from the leveling effects of globalization, the rue des Martyrs maintains its distinct allure. Sciolino reveals the charms and idiosyncrasies of this street and its longtime residents--the Tunisian greengrocer, the husband-and-wife cheesemongers, the showman who's been running a transvestite cabaret for more than half a century, the owner of a 100-year-old bookstore, the woman who repairs eighteenth-century mercury barometers--making Paris come alive in all its unique majesty. will make readers hungry for Paris, for cheese and wine, and for the kind of street life that is all too quickly disappearing.
Review
"A master storyteller, Elaine Sciolino has made the everyday life of one Paris street extraordinary. She writes with compassion and wit--about sending a letter to the pope, hosting an American-style potluck for her neighbors, conquering the universe of French cheese." Guy Savoy, chef and restaurateur
Review
"Elaine Sciolino came to Paris as an outsider, and has made the city hers. In this book, she uses a deep knowledge of French history, a journalist's curiosity, and a playful sense of humor to
Review
"Elaine takes us on a walk down one of the most charming streets in Paris. I learned fascinating facts through her lively, engaging prose. A must-read for Paris lovers." Clotilde Dusoulier, author of
Review
"Intricately detailed, fastidiously researched, is a love poem to a spectacular, singular street in Paris. If you think you know all you need to know about Paris, you are in for a surprise. There are delights and discoveries on every page." Patricia Wells, author of At Home with Patricia Wells
Synopsis
A delightful and beguiling look at life on a small Paris street.
Synopsis
Elaine Sciolino, the former Paris Bureau Chief of the New York Times, invites us on a tour of her favorite Parisian street, offering an homage to street life and the pleasures of Parisian living. "I can never be sad on the rue des Martyrs," Sciolino explains, as she celebrates the neighborhood's rich history and vibrant lives. While many cities suffer from the leveling effects of globalization, the rue des Martyrs maintains its distinct allure. On this street, the patron saint of France was beheaded and the Jesuits took their first vows. It was here that Edgar Degas and Pierre-Auguste Renoir painted circus acrobats, Emile Zola situated a lesbian dinner club in his novel Nana, and Francois Truffaut filmed scenes from The 400 Blows. Sciolino reveals the charms and idiosyncrasies of this street and its longtime residents--the Tunisian greengrocer, the husband-and-wife cheesemongers, the showman who's been running a transvestite cabaret for more than half a century, the owner of a 100-year-old bookstore, the woman who repairs eighteenth-century mercury barometers--bringing Paris alive in all of its unique majesty. The Only Street in Paris will make readers hungry for Paris, for cheese and wine, and for the kind of street life that is all too quickly disappearing.
Synopsis
Part memoir, part travelogue, part love letter to the people who live and work on a magical street in Paris.
About the Author
Elaine Sciolino is a writer for the New York Times and a former New York Times Paris bureau chief, based in France since 2002. She is the author of La Seduction: How the French Play the Game of Life, Persian Mirrors: The Elusive Face of Iran, and The Outlaw State: Saddam Hussein's Quest for Power and the Gulf Crisis. In 2010, she was decorated as a chevalier of the Legion of Honor for her "special contribution" to the friendship between France and the United States. She has worked for Newsweek in New York, Chicago, Paris, and Rome. She held a number of posts at the New York Times, including United Nations' bureau chief, Central Intelligence Agency correspondent, and chief diplomatic correspondent.