Sign-In
Cart
A Year in Paris: Season by Season in the City of Light
Paperback
Travel WritingFranceFrench History
Publisher Price: $17.99
ISBN13: 9780062846884
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Published: Feb 26 2019
Pages: 336
Weight: 0.60
Height: 1.00 Width: 5.20 Depth: 7.00
Language: English
A NEW YORK TIMES SUMMER READING PICK!
From the incomparable John Baxter, award-winning author of the bestselling The Most Beautiful Walk in the World, a sumptuous and definitive portrait of Paris through the seasons, highlighting the unique tastes, sights, and changing personality of the city in spring, summer, fall, and winter.
When the common people of France revolted in 1789, one of the first ways they chose to correct the excesses of the monarchy and the church was to rename the months of the year. Selected by poet and playwright Philippe-Francois-Nazaire Fabre, these new names reflected what took place at that season in the natural world; Fructidor was the month of fruit, Floréal that of flowers, while the winter wind (vent) dominated Ventôse.
Though the names didn't stick, these seasonal rhythms of the year continue to define Parisians, as well as travelers to the city. As acclaimed author and long-time Paris resident John Baxter himself recollects, My own arrival in France took place in Nivôse, the month of snow, and continued in Pluviôse, the season of rain. To someone coming from Los Angeles, where seasons barely existed, the shock was visceral. Struggling to adjust, I found reassurance in the literature, music, even the cuisine of my adoptive country, all of which marched to the inaudible drummer of the seasons.
Devoting a section of the book to each of Fabre's months, Baxter draws upon Paris's literary, cultural and artistic past to paint an affecting, unforgettable portrait of the city. Touching upon the various ghosts of Paris past, from Hemingway and Zelda Fitzgerald, to Claude Debussy to MFK Fisher to Francois Mitterrand, Baxter evokes the rhythms of the seasons in the City of Light, and the sense of wonder they can arouse for all who visit and live there.
A melange of history, travel reportage, and myth, of high culture and low, A Year in Paris is vintage John Baxter: a vicarious thrill ride for anyone who loves Paris.
This captivating blend of memoir and cultural history unpacks the city's secrets:
- Paris Through the Seasons: Discover how the city's personality transforms from the blossoms of spring to the chill of winter, and how these rhythms have shaped Parisian life for centuries.
- The Republican Calendar: Journey back to the French Revolution and the fascinating, short-lived calendar that renamed the months to reflect the natural world, from the mists of Brumaire to the heat of Thermidor.
- A Paris Travel Guide: Go beyond the typical tourist spots with an insider's look at the tastes, sights, and hidden corners that make the city unforgettable, no matter the time of year.
- Literary Paris: Walk in the footsteps of legends like Hemingway and Zelda Fitzgerald, exploring the haunts that inspired generations of writers and artists.
Also in
France
Paris Chic & Trendy: Designers' Studios, Hip Boutiques, Vintage Shops
Ribes-Tiphaine, Adrienne
Paperback
Lonely Planet France: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Paris, Provence, Cote d'Azur, Monaco and More
Lee, Cyrena
Williams, Nicola
Carillet, Jean-Bernard
Paperback
Lonely Planet Paris: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysees, Louvre and More
Carillet, Jean-Bernard
Winston Nicklin, Mary
Averbuck, Alexis
Paperback
The Secret Life of a Cemetery: The Wild Nature and Enchanting Lore of Père-Lachaise
Gallot, Benoît
Paperback
Lonely Planet French Phrasebook & Dictionary: Learn Essential Phrases & Vocabulary 3,500 Word Two-Way Dictionary Pull-Out Fast Phrases Card Travel wit
Masclef, Jean-Pierre
Janes, Michael
Carillet, Jean-Bernard
Paperback
Lonely Planet Provence & the Cote d'Azur: Plan the Trip of a Lifetime Detailed Itineraries & Maps Insider Tips Covers Cote d'Azur & Monaco, the Var, B
McClatchie, Chrissie
Averbuck, Alexis
Frankel, Michael
Paperback
Lonely Planet Pocket Paris: Discover Twice the City in Half the Time Top Sights Maps & Walking Tours Covers Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysees, Louvre and M
Winston Nicklin, Mary
Averbuck, Alexis
Carillet, Jean-Bernard
Paperback
Trekking the Tour Du Mont Blanc: Classic 170km Hut-To-Hut Hike with Two-Way Route Description
Reynolds, Kev
Paperback
Rough Guides France: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Paris, Provence, the Loire Valley and
Guides, Rough
Richards, Anna
Morton, Owen
Paperback
Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World's Greatest Museum
Sciolino, Elaine
Paperback
French Made Easy Level 1: An Easy Step-By-Step Approach To Learn French for Beginners (Textbook + Workbook Included)
Lingo Mastery
Paperback
Guía de Conversación Español-Francés y vocabulario temático de 3000 palabras
Taranov, Andrey
Paperback
Moon Normandy & Brittany: With Mont-Saint-Michel: Castles & Cathedrals, Charming Villages & Markets, D-Day Beaches
Newens, Chris
Moon Travel Guides
Paperback
Inside Paris: An Exclusive View Inside the Houses of Parisian Interior and Fashion Designers, Artists, and Influencers
Labougle, Ricardo
Hardcover
The Secret Life of a Cemetery: The Wild Nature and Enchanting Lore of Père-Lachaise
Gallot, Benoît
Hardcover
Adventures in the Louvre: How to Fall in Love with the World's Greatest Museum
Sciolino, Elaine
Hardcover
Rough Guides Paris: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: The Louvre, Montmartre, the Left Bank a
Guides, Rough
Ifans, Rachel
Paperback
Adventures on the Wine Route: A Wine Buyer's Tour of France (25th Anniversary Edition)
Lynch, Kermit
Paperback
DK Top 10 Normandy: Top 10 Lists for Your Perfect Trip, Plus an All-Weather Folded Map
Dk Travel
Paperback
DK Top 10 Paris: Top 10 Lists for Your Perfect Trip, Plus an All-Weather Folded Map
Dk Travel
Paperback
DK Top 10 Paris: Top 10 Lists for Your Perfect Trip, Plus an All-Weather Folded Map
Dk Travel
Paperback
Rough Guides Provence and the Cote d'Azur: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Avignon, Marseil
Ifans, Rachel
Guides, Rough
Paperback
Do It in Paris: An Insiders Guide to 450 Places to Visit, Sites to See, and Things to Do
The Editors at Do It in Paris
Hardcover
Lonely Planet Experience Provence & the Cote d'Azur: Build a Trip to Remember Local Insights Maps & Planning Tools Covers Nice, Monaco, St-Tropez, Mar
Richards, Anna
McClatchie, Chrissie
Parsons, Ashley
Paperback
The Artful Way to Plant-Based Cooking: Nourishing Recipes and Heartfelt Moments (a Cookbook)
Crane, Trudy
Crane-LeRoux, Chloé
Hardcover
Insight Guides Provence and the French Riviera: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Culture & Society Must-See Sights Stunning Photos Expert Advice Cov
Ifans, Rachel
Insight Guides
Paperback
Drinking French: The Iconic Cocktails, Apéritifs, and Café Traditions of France, with 160 Recipes
Lebovitz, David
Hardcover
Lonely Planet France: Detailed Itineraries Travel Like a Local Insider Tips Covers Paris, Brittany, the Loire, Champagne, the French Alps, Provence an
Averbuck, Alexis
Carillet, Jean-Bernard
Williams, Nicola
Paperback
I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself: One Woman's Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris
MacNicol, Glynnis
Hardcover
A Pig in Provence: Good Food and Simple Pleasures in the South of France
Brennan, Georgeanne
Paperback
Dirt: Adventures in Lyon as a Chef in Training, Father, and Sleuth Looking for the Secret of French Cooking
Buford, Bill
Paperback
Rough Guides Languedoc and Roussillon: Travel Guide with eBook
Guides, Rough
Catlos, Brian A.
Paperback
Lonely Planet Best Road Trips France: 39 Driving Itineraries Detailed Directions & Maps Local Tips Covers Paris, Normandy, Loire Valley, Provence, Pyr
Averbuck, Alexis
Balsam, Joel
Richards, Anna
Paperback
I'll Never Be French (No Matter What I Do): Living in a Small Village in Brittany
Greenside, Mark
Paperback
Easy French Phrase Book: Over 1500 Common Phrases For Everyday Use And Travel
Lingo Mastery
Paperback
Paris Cocktails, Second Edition: An Elegant Collection of Over 100 Recipes Inspired by the City of Light
Belau, Doni
Hardcover
Michelin Travel Guides Short Stays: Paris: Fully Updated and Includes Detachable Map
Michelin Editions
Paperback
Rough Guides Walks and Tours Nice and the French Riviera: Travel Guide with eBook
Guides, Rough
Ifans, Rachel
Paperback
French Short Stories for Beginners and Intermediate Learners: Learn French and Build Your Vocabulary
Guru, Language
Paperback
Duck Season: Eating, Drinking, and Other Misadventures in Gascony--France's Last Best Place
McAninch, David
Paperback
The Rough Guide to Brittany and Normandy: Travel Guide with eBook
Richards, Anna
Guides, Rough
Paperback
Rough Guides Pocket Paris: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Montmartre
Guides, Rough
Ifans, Rachel
Paperback
French Country Cooking: Meals and Moments from a Village in the Vineyards: A Cookbook
Thorisson, Mimi
Hardcover
Moon London, Paris & Amsterdam: Experience Three Unique Cities in One Unforgettable Trip
Moon Travel Guides
Newens, Chris
Paperback
Travels Through the French Riviera: An Artist's Guide to the Storied Coastline, from Menton to Saint-Tropez
Johnson, Virginia
Hardcover
French: Learn French For Beginners Including French Grammar, French Short Stories and 1000+ French Phrases
University, Language Learning
Hardcover
From Here, You Can't See Paris: Seasons of a French Village and Its Restaurant
Sanders, Michael S.
Paperback
Lonely Planet Experience France: Build a Trip to Remember Local Insights Maps & Planning Tools Covers Paris, the Loire Valley, Normandy, Lyon, Provenc
Carillet, Jean-Bernard
Winston Nicklin, Mary
Cho, Eileen
Paperback
The Rough Guide to Dordogne and the Lot: Travel Guide with eBook
Guides, Rough
Richards, Anna
Paperback
The New French Wine [Two-Book Boxed Set]: Redefining the World's Greatest Wine Culture
Bonné, Jon
Hardcover
We've Always Had Paris... and Provence: A Scrapbook of Our Life in France
Wells, Patricia
Wells, Walter
Paperback
Moon Provence & the French Riviera: Best Beaches, Local Food & Wine, Hillside Villages
Ivey, Jamie
Bryant, Jon
Moon Travel Guides
Paperback
The Way of the Wild Goose: Three Pilgrimages Following Geese, Stars, and Hunches on the Camino de Santiago
Bahrami, Beebe
Paperback
French Phrase Book: 1,500+ Common French Phrases and Vocabulary for Beginners and Travelers
Bibard, Frederic
Talk in French
Paperback
Rough Guides Mini Nice, Cannes and Monte Carlo: Travel Guide with eBook: 2026-2027 Insider Tips Must-See Sights Maps & Itineraries Covers: Monaco, Pro
Guides, Rough
Ifans, Rachel
Paperback
Learn French With Short Stories - Fifteen Beginner Stories With Parallel French And English Text
French Hacking
Paperback
Learn French: A beginner's guide to learning basic French fast, including useful common words and phrases!
Alfaro, Adrian
Paperback
The Sweet Life in Paris: Delicious Adventures in the World's Most Glorious--And Perplexing--City
Lebovitz, David
Paperback
France - Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
Tomalin, Barry
Culture Smart!
Paperback
The Streets of Paris: A Guide to the City of Light Following in the Footsteps of Famous Parisians Throughout History
Cahill, Susan
Paperback