How Paris Amuses Itself

Frank Berkeley SmithProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.0

Word count: 298K words
Chapters: 30

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.How Paris Amuses Itself by F. Berkeley SmithAuthor: Smith, F. Berkeley (Frank Berkeley), 1869-1931,Language: English, Class: DC: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: France, Andorra, Monaco, Release Date: Sep 18, 2014

Editor's review

Written in English, this book explores how Parisians amuse themselves and is an essayistic work that interweaves urban life with history and culture. Its readability lies in observing entertainment venues and everyday diversions together with the character of the city, allowing readers to enter through leisure life and sense the social atmosphere and popular tastes of early twentieth-century Paris. Aimed at general readers, the narration is brisk and well suited as an introductory reading for understanding Parisian urban culture, and also for browsing before or after a trip to provide background for observing the city. It should be noted that this is an observation and record of a particular era, carrying the author's personal perspective and the limitations of his time, and it should not be used as rigorous sociological research or a modern travel guide. Read as a literary sketch of urban life, it is all the more enjoyable.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in Parisian urban culture and historical life
Travelers planning to visit Paris who want to understand the city's character beforehand
Readers who enjoy the essay form and prefer light English reading
Culture enthusiasts curious about urban entertainment life in early twentieth-century Europe

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking the latest practical travel information and route guides
Academic readers expecting rigorous sociological research or data support
Readers who struggle with English and are unwilling to use reference tools

Reading tips

Begin by browsing the table of contents and start with chapters on entertainment scenes that match your interests; there is no need to read straight through.
While reading, consult a map or city photos to match the scenes in the book with locations in today's Paris.
Mark unfamiliar terms related to the period background and look them up after finishing a chapter, so as not to interrupt the rhythm.
Read alongside other books on Parisian urban history, and be careful to distinguish the author's personal impressions from historical information.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Can this book be used as a Paris travel guide?

Not really. The information indicates that it is a historical work recording the Parisian entertainment life of the author's era, rather than providing modern travel information such as transport, ticket prices, or opening hours. It can serve as cultural background reading before a trip, but practical guides require up-to-date sources.

What language level is needed to read this book?

The book is in English, in an essay style aimed at general readers. It is not especially difficult overall, but vocabulary related to urban life and period background may require checking. Readers with general English reading ability can finish it with the help of a dictionary.

What are the author and publication details of this book?

According to the information, the author is F. Berkeley Smith (Frank Berkeley Smith, 1869–1931), it was released by Project Gutenberg, the information gives the year as 2019, and the initial release date of the electronic edition was September 18, 2014.

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About the author

Frank Berkeley Smith Author · American · 1869–1931

Frank Berkeley Smith (1869–1931) was an American illustrator, architect and writer, and the son of the painter Francis Hopkinson Smith. He studied architecture at Columbia University and later practiced in Paris, while also designing covers for books and periodicals. Four of his works are held in the collection: The Real Latin Quarter, How Paris Amuses Itself, A Village of Vagabonds and The Lady of Big Shanty. The first two are Paris-themed and largely illustrated by the author himself, presenting the streets of the Latin Quarter and the city's amusements through a combination of text and images that reflects both an architect's eye for detail and an illustrator's visual sensitivity. Public information on his life and working background is limited, and existing accounts center mainly on his Paris-themed writing and self-illustrated drawings.