Paris In Books

There are so many books about Paris in English, and we all have our favorites. These five books are some of my favorites written about Paris. Hemingway may be a bit outdated, but in my world, no list is complete without him. Whether you are an armchair traveler or planning a trip, these books are excellent depictions – seen from the ground by people who live or have lived there.

This post is another modified one from my old site, from May 2020, cut in half: a kill–your–darlings–ish situation. Five survived the slaughter!

Let me know what you think about these books and your favorites.

5 Non-Fiction Books About Paris

One of the writers who truly is a goldmine is John Baxter, who lives and writes in Paris and has been doing so for decades. His book The Most Beautiful Walk is a vein of information and anecdotes.

Jeremy Mercer’s memoir, Books, Baguettes & Bedbugs, is a classic about a classic, a book about the world-famous bookstore Shakespeare and Company. The bookstore may be crowded and overly touristy these days (as opposed to back in the 1990s when the world was different, and the hotel Esmeralda next to it was much cheaper!). However, it is still a legendary place, and Jeremy’s account of the bookstore’s history and his own life and stay is charming and thought-provoking.

Sciolino’s book and The Only Street in Paris are great – they may idolize Paris a bit, but her love for this city shines through on these pages. But isn’t that kind of positivity something we could all use a dose of occasionally? I think so. It is also evident that Sciolino has never really had the financial worries that so many foreigners have to make part of the puzzle in Paris. But the book is written so charmingly by a great journalist.

Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast, no list would be complete without it. Whether you worship just Hemingway or the entire Lost Generation in all its glory, Hemingway is still gold.

And if you want to walk around Paris, a bit off the beaten track, one pick among numerous guides, Walks in Hemingway’s Paris, is a sure winner.

Thanks for reading! I hope you found it valuable and worth your time! Until next time, remember to get your facts straight and that whatever good times you have will never come back as bad times,