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Paris Reborn: Napoléon III, Baron Haussmann, and the Quest to Build a Modern City
Stephane Kirkland gives an engrossing account of Napoleon III, Baron Haussmann, and one of the greatest transformations of a major city in modern history
Traditionally known as a dirty, congested, and dangerous city, 19th Century Paris, France was transformed in an extraordinary period in the years 1848 to 1870, when the government launched a huge campaign to build streets, squares, parks, churches, and public buildings. The Louvre Palace was expanded, Notre-Dame Cathedral was restored and the French masterpiece of the Second Empire, the Opéra Garnier, was built. A very large part of what we see when we visit Paris today originates from this short span of twenty-two years.
The vision for the new Nineteenth Century Paris belonged to Napoleon III, who had led a long and difficult climb to absolute power. But his plans faltered until he brought in a civil servant, Georges-Eugène Haussmann, to take charge of the implementation. Heedless of controversy, at tremendous cost, Haussmann pressed ahead with the giant undertaking until, in 1870, his political enemies brought him down, just months before the collapse of the whole regime brought about the end of an era.
Paris Reborn is a must-read for anyone who ever wondered how Paris, the city universally admired as a standard of urban beauty, became what it is.
Traditionally known as a dirty, congested, and dangerous city, 19th Century Paris, France was transformed in an extraordinary period in the years 1848 to 1870, when the government launched a huge campaign to build streets, squares, parks, churches, and public buildings. The Louvre Palace was expanded, Notre-Dame Cathedral was restored and the French masterpiece of the Second Empire, the Opéra Garnier, was built. A very large part of what we see when we visit Paris today originates from this short span of twenty-two years.
The vision for the new Nineteenth Century Paris belonged to Napoleon III, who had led a long and difficult climb to absolute power. But his plans faltered until he brought in a civil servant, Georges-Eugène Haussmann, to take charge of the implementation. Heedless of controversy, at tremendous cost, Haussmann pressed ahead with the giant undertaking until, in 1870, his political enemies brought him down, just months before the collapse of the whole regime brought about the end of an era.
Paris Reborn is a must-read for anyone who ever wondered how Paris, the city universally admired as a standard of urban beauty, became what it is.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
May 31, 2020
A fascinating description of how a despotic 19th century government used a mixture of force and fraud to do something really worthwhile. Napoleon III and Baron Haussmann bulldozed their way through the alleys and slums of mediaeval Paris and created a beautiful, functional modern city that people would actually want to live in: the cultural capital of the world and tourist destination par excellence.
The rebuilding of Paris was not a new idea, but previous governments had never had the bravado to pull it off. Napoleon III wanted broad straight boulevards with wide footpaths, so that traffic could move freely and pedestrians could walk in cleanliness and safety. Haussmann’s contribution was mainly as an enabler, although it was he who added the trees and made sure that every avenue ended in an impressive public building. The new buildings themselves were not exactly works of genius, but they were sound, harmonious and practical. More mundane matters were not neglected: the works included sewers, water, gas and street lighting.
The Second Empire was famously corrupt, but it was the civilised corruption of cronyism and insider trading, rather than outright bribery or extortion. In particular justice was not for sale. Napoleon III’s dictatorship controlled the legislature and the executive, but the regime was still law-bound and the judiciary was surprisingly independent.
Haussmann’s schemes for Paris involved massive compulsory purchase of private land, yet it was all done according to the law and the owners received adequate, even excessive compensation. (The tenants got nothing, of course.) The baron resorted to various dubious schemes to raise money, but it was all well spent and it did not end up in his own pockets.
The rebuilding of Paris was not a new idea, but previous governments had never had the bravado to pull it off. Napoleon III wanted broad straight boulevards with wide footpaths, so that traffic could move freely and pedestrians could walk in cleanliness and safety. Haussmann’s contribution was mainly as an enabler, although it was he who added the trees and made sure that every avenue ended in an impressive public building. The new buildings themselves were not exactly works of genius, but they were sound, harmonious and practical. More mundane matters were not neglected: the works included sewers, water, gas and street lighting.
The Second Empire was famously corrupt, but it was the civilised corruption of cronyism and insider trading, rather than outright bribery or extortion. In particular justice was not for sale. Napoleon III’s dictatorship controlled the legislature and the executive, but the regime was still law-bound and the judiciary was surprisingly independent.
Haussmann’s schemes for Paris involved massive compulsory purchase of private land, yet it was all done according to the law and the owners received adequate, even excessive compensation. (The tenants got nothing, of course.) The baron resorted to various dubious schemes to raise money, but it was all well spent and it did not end up in his own pockets.
August 6, 2020
An architectural and municipal planning survey of the changes undergone for 30 years in the mid nineteenth century by Emperor Napoleon III and an ambitious city planner, Baron Haussmann, to advance Paris into the future.
Many of the changes were controversial as a good majority of the medieval structures of Paris were greatly altered. Even the spire of Notre Dame, which we lost to fire just last year, was a "restoration" by Haussmann. However, the Paris any person visits today was fundamentally transmogrified into what you would recognize if you were to visit now: vastly expanded and expansive boulevards (the word originates from this expansion), stunning long vistas, ordered facades of buildings along those boulevards, a more logical city grid with idiosyncrasies you might view today - the eight boulevards radiating like the spokes of a wheel from the Place de l'Etoile (site of the Arc de Triumphe) to revitalize the lifelines of central Paris, the razing of ramshackle housing on the Ile de la Cite surrounding Notre Dame and the government buildings, the expansion of public parks, the lengthening of main avenues, the expansion of the Louvre area, the dedication of areas around the Tuileries to public enjoyment. It's a quick read, and probably best enjoyed by those with some knowledge of the city map of Paris, but it would also certainly supplement the reading of those planning to visit. One of the more important episodes in Paris history, and recommended for those who desire more knowledge of the existing architecture of the City of Light. The only element missing is the Eiffel Tower, which comes slightly later.
Many of the changes were controversial as a good majority of the medieval structures of Paris were greatly altered. Even the spire of Notre Dame, which we lost to fire just last year, was a "restoration" by Haussmann. However, the Paris any person visits today was fundamentally transmogrified into what you would recognize if you were to visit now: vastly expanded and expansive boulevards (the word originates from this expansion), stunning long vistas, ordered facades of buildings along those boulevards, a more logical city grid with idiosyncrasies you might view today - the eight boulevards radiating like the spokes of a wheel from the Place de l'Etoile (site of the Arc de Triumphe) to revitalize the lifelines of central Paris, the razing of ramshackle housing on the Ile de la Cite surrounding Notre Dame and the government buildings, the expansion of public parks, the lengthening of main avenues, the expansion of the Louvre area, the dedication of areas around the Tuileries to public enjoyment. It's a quick read, and probably best enjoyed by those with some knowledge of the city map of Paris, but it would also certainly supplement the reading of those planning to visit. One of the more important episodes in Paris history, and recommended for those who desire more knowledge of the existing architecture of the City of Light. The only element missing is the Eiffel Tower, which comes slightly later.
October 27, 2013
In the US we tend to think that urban planning began with Daniel Burnham and the Plan of Chicago at the dawn of the twentieth century. Napoleon III credited Augustus Caesar as first with a plan for Rome. It seems there has been a long gap between Rome and the mid-nineteenth century plan for Paris for which Napoleon III was the prime mover.
Earlier this year I read Napoleon III and His Carnival Empire which had very little about this topic and I wondered how the Paris plan fit in with this administration that was portrayed with great humor. The only carnivale-style vignette in "Paris Reborn" is the brief description of the dueling wardrobes of the Empress Eugenie and her rival Countess Virginia Oldoini. There is very little overlap in these books, and each approaches Napoleon III from a different point of view.
The book recounts some interesting aspects of the project: how plans were and were not made, financing (the Pereire brothers, Credit Mobilier, vouchers for future payment that circulated as money, etc.) the technology of the time (mcadam, sidewalks of asphalt, railroads, running water, a hospital to accommodate the new discovery of germs); the renovation of Notre Dame; the various architects; and the structure of the autocracy that gave the Prefect of Paris, Baron Haussmann power he would never have had if accountable to Parisians. Author Stephane Kirkland does not tell the fate of the 20 percent of the population of Paris (117,553 people, p. 135) who were displaced by the "grands travaux".
Is it the author's fault that there are no maps? Who selected the photos and decided that there would be so few of them? Even if expense was the issue, why not have some b&w line drawings? A book like this needs some before and after renderings. Maps showing the location of the major projects (simple line drawing renderings would not be expensive) are a serious omission.
I'd like to give this 3 stars and probably should because I stayed with it (I usually don't finish or review books I'd rate with 2 stars) but the omissions can't be overlooked.
Earlier this year I read Napoleon III and His Carnival Empire which had very little about this topic and I wondered how the Paris plan fit in with this administration that was portrayed with great humor. The only carnivale-style vignette in "Paris Reborn" is the brief description of the dueling wardrobes of the Empress Eugenie and her rival Countess Virginia Oldoini. There is very little overlap in these books, and each approaches Napoleon III from a different point of view.
The book recounts some interesting aspects of the project: how plans were and were not made, financing (the Pereire brothers, Credit Mobilier, vouchers for future payment that circulated as money, etc.) the technology of the time (mcadam, sidewalks of asphalt, railroads, running water, a hospital to accommodate the new discovery of germs); the renovation of Notre Dame; the various architects; and the structure of the autocracy that gave the Prefect of Paris, Baron Haussmann power he would never have had if accountable to Parisians. Author Stephane Kirkland does not tell the fate of the 20 percent of the population of Paris (117,553 people, p. 135) who were displaced by the "grands travaux".
Is it the author's fault that there are no maps? Who selected the photos and decided that there would be so few of them? Even if expense was the issue, why not have some b&w line drawings? A book like this needs some before and after renderings. Maps showing the location of the major projects (simple line drawing renderings would not be expensive) are a serious omission.
I'd like to give this 3 stars and probably should because I stayed with it (I usually don't finish or review books I'd rate with 2 stars) but the omissions can't be overlooked.
November 15, 2014
Kirkland focuses on the politics involved with the massive undertaking of refashioning Paris from a reeking conglomeration of hovels and passageways into a modern organized and sanitized habitat. Baron Haussmann often gets most of the credit for getting the job done, but the book is useful in documenting Napoleon III's leadership in the undertaking. I was looking for more on the physical process of the transformation, in particular the engineering challenges and achievements. While this is addressed, Kirkland comes back most often to the political wrangling involved. It is quite a story. Anyone who had taken the Paris tour of the sewer system cannot fail to be impressed with what was accomplished in this aspect alone. I came away also wanting more about the human toll and social consequences of the transformation. This story has not been fully satisfied in Kirkland's account.
May 29, 2013
Interesting, poorly written, and frustratingly without photos and drawings, strange for a book about city planning. Despite observations like this editorial beep describing Empress Eugenie, "She had many qualities," Paris Reborn, which originated from Napoleon III's color plan, not the super bureaucrat Haussmann's, prepared me to appreciate Paris for what it still is today, the first modern city.
April 29, 2015
Fascinating history of Paris when it was being transformed into the city we know it as today. Showed a totally different side of Haussmann than what I had encountered before in art history classes. Although I wish it had more maps or diagrams within the text as it was hard for me to imagine some of the huge changes they made since I'm not extremely familiar with prominent streets in Paris.
Read
December 28, 2020Plodding and workmanlike, and evidently more interested in the guest lists of Napoleon III's many fetes than analyzing the social and economic forces of Second Empire Paris. I may have to learn French to finally find a good history of this period.
Still, it's a perfectly serviceable account of the facts, and I learned some useful things. (Did you know that the double decker bus came before the invention of the internal combustion engine? I didn't.) Haussmann comes across as not unlike a 19th century Robert Moses: a skillful political operator who responded at first to real urban needs, but soon used his powers to operate without accountability to anyone, razing long-established neighborhoods and accumulating mounds of off-balance-sheet debt.
Still, it's a perfectly serviceable account of the facts, and I learned some useful things. (Did you know that the double decker bus came before the invention of the internal combustion engine? I didn't.) Haussmann comes across as not unlike a 19th century Robert Moses: a skillful political operator who responded at first to real urban needs, but soon used his powers to operate without accountability to anyone, razing long-established neighborhoods and accumulating mounds of off-balance-sheet debt.
August 3, 2018
A fascinating glimpse into 19th century Paris, Kirkland tells a story more from the point of view of an architect or engineer rather than a historian. As that is the goal, rather than talking as much about the people involved, a book that appears to be a biography turns out to not be one. Paris before the Second Empire was dirty and overpopulated, before it became an icon of modernity, with the latest in urban planning, public services, and the arts. Emperor Napoleon III demanded a jewel of a capital, the envy of the world, no matter the price. With some sense of a constitution, this desire was fiscally limited, but Napoleon's greatest allies among the politicians of the age found ways to work around these restraints to get the job done. The work was expensive, and was likely a major force behind the near bankruptcy of France by the time of the fall of the empire in 1871, but Baron Haussmann, credited to this day for making Paris what it is, was proven correct in the long run for his intensive efforts turning a profit for the city and nation. As this book is strictly a tale of the transformation of one of Europe's great cities, I was disappointed that other aspects of Napoleon's rule were glazed over (such as the military escapades in the Crimea and against Prussia). However, that is not the author's intent; other books exist for that subject matter. So if you're looking for a biography on Napoleon III, this isn't it, but there is hardly a better introduction to urban planning and development, along with the discussion of financing and politics that go with such a huge project. Haussmann and Napoleon III are rarely remembered in the English speaking world today, but anyone the least bit of a Francophile certainly has them to thank for the splendor existing more than 150 years later when they see Paris.
June 5, 2019
A focused story of a key period in Paris' history, Paris Reborn ties together three aspects of the Second Empire. It's an equal exploration of the Parisian aspects of Napoléon III's reign; of Haussman's rise and fall, and of the urban projects that changed Paris during their administration. While centered on Haussman, the book is clear that he was not the visionary behind the transformation - it was Napoléon III who began making specific plans as soon as he came to power. Instead, Haussman was an administrator, lobbyist, and cheerleader for the disruptive changes his patron wanted. The book is not extensively a deep exploration of the geography of the changes - they are explored, but design and architecture is not the prime focus, Instead, what Kirkland does best is explore the social efforts and effects that came with the transformation of Paris - both for the key players and politicians, and for the rest of the citizenry. He draws out many intriguing themes - such as the tension between the harmonious, livable city that resulted from the projects, and the authoritarian process that the changes required. Quick-moving and very readable, the book is definitely bent towards a popular audience, and yet is still able to explore some rather thought-provoking themes. Interesting for the history of Paris and the Second Empire, of course, but also a worthy meditation on visionary government.
October 12, 2019
Paris Reborn is a well-researched volume about Napoleon III and his Prefect of the Seine, Baron Haussmann. Many people know that without the emperor and mostly without, Haussmann, Paris would not look as it does today with its wide boulevards, Second Empire style architecture and its grand Opera House, Hotel de Ville, etc.
Stephane Kirkland, himself an architect, offers a very readable account of the events from the day Napoleon III arrived in Paris in 1837 to the end of his emperorship in 1871. There has always been controversy about whether the mass destruction of the old Paris to build the "new" was a good thing or not, but from the point of view of sanitation, the creation of lovely parks, and the ability to travel across the city from one end to the other, it was certainly a success. The millions of people who visit "Europe's Capital" each year would most likely agree.
I would say that this book is for true Francophiles: readers who enjoy French history and architecture, but would likely be of interest to others, as well.
Stephane Kirkland, himself an architect, offers a very readable account of the events from the day Napoleon III arrived in Paris in 1837 to the end of his emperorship in 1871. There has always been controversy about whether the mass destruction of the old Paris to build the "new" was a good thing or not, but from the point of view of sanitation, the creation of lovely parks, and the ability to travel across the city from one end to the other, it was certainly a success. The millions of people who visit "Europe's Capital" each year would most likely agree.
I would say that this book is for true Francophiles: readers who enjoy French history and architecture, but would likely be of interest to others, as well.
August 10, 2013
Goodreads! Why do you sometimes discard my comments when I select "I'm finished" and sometimes you don't? Grrrr! So annoying.
Anyway, I read this book to accompany my reading of Edward Rutherford's Paris, A Novel. Kirkland's book focuses narrowly on a period of great rebuilding in the history of Paris and how Paris is different from so many other cities. I had not learned much about Napoleon III previously, having mostly read about Napoleon I--this book and Paris, A Novel, helped me to understand the many periods of revolution in France and especially Paris and how the movement was not just from monarchy to emperors to elected officials but was much more complex.
This definitely isn't a general interest book but it was helpful to me. My stars (3) reflects its specialized nature. For the type of book it is, I found it very useful and interesting.
Anyway, I read this book to accompany my reading of Edward Rutherford's Paris, A Novel. Kirkland's book focuses narrowly on a period of great rebuilding in the history of Paris and how Paris is different from so many other cities. I had not learned much about Napoleon III previously, having mostly read about Napoleon I--this book and Paris, A Novel, helped me to understand the many periods of revolution in France and especially Paris and how the movement was not just from monarchy to emperors to elected officials but was much more complex.
This definitely isn't a general interest book but it was helpful to me. My stars (3) reflects its specialized nature. For the type of book it is, I found it very useful and interesting.
August 19, 2016
A confused premise set to ruin by mediocre prose and poor structure. The endless litanies on boring legislative battles and obscure financial instruments make me think the author intended something dry and academic yet rigorous; the weirdly disjointed anecdotes make me think there was a failed attempt at pop history. If so, the author deeply overestimates how much the public cares about municipal funding strategies. The structure of the book makes no sense - tension is built for several pages leading to an anticlimactic payoff two sentences long. Long histories are given for inconsequential actors who never reappear. The writing is so bleh that I first thought the work had been translated from French. There's a good idea at the core, and the epilogue makes me wish for the better book which could have expanded on that idea.
July 28, 2013
The title sums up the entire book. It is a moderately enjoyable read with interesting bits and quiddities about emperor (Napoleon III), city builder (Haussmann), and city (Paris) itself. Did you know the water in Paris was once so filthy that Parisians would let their drinking water sit for a day? So that the silty impurities could settle to the bottom, of course. And (reputedly) drinking this water is what killed Mozart's mother. Poor Wolfgang. Was the book entirely effective? Not really. I slowed considerably toward the end. It was hard to visualize what was happening to the city - what streets, homes, and buildings were razed - and where. But if you like this sort of topic, you could do much worse.
July 2, 2013
Overall an interesting read, but how do you write a book on urban planning and not include any maps? I have read this book and despite having passed over the names of many streets and areas in Paris, I still have no idea what did or didn't get built. It could have used more context overall because it felt like the author assumed a lot of familiarity with Paris and French history on the reader's part.
February 27, 2014
A very interesting book about the transformation of Paris during the Second Empire. The events are presented in historical context, and we get to meet many fascinating historical characters(obviously Napoleon III, Baron Haussman, but also Prosper Merimee, Charles Garnier and many many others). A very satisfying read if you are interested in Paris and in French history.
May 8, 2013
I learned a lot from this book, and it is well-written. But the author is not a scholar, and his anecdote-laden and unsystematic approach grated on me. Given that the book is all about streets and buildings, it is unforgiveable that it has not a single map.
June 16, 2019
Great introduction to the origins of Paris as we know it today, with all the social, political, and human implications along the way. Told in a narrative-like fashion that’s easy to follow, and includes all the key players.
July 11, 2019
Paris Reborn! A great read!
The book is as fascinating as the city about which it is written. I have always had a love for Paris and I can’t wait to visit it again with all of the information that I have acquired from reading this book!
The book is as fascinating as the city about which it is written. I have always had a love for Paris and I can’t wait to visit it again with all of the information that I have acquired from reading this book!
January 3, 2021
Since my trip to Paris was cancelled this year, I decided to learn some history of the beautiful city I love. This is a very interesting book focused on the Second Empire work of Baron Haussmann and Napoleon III.
February 9, 2019
Paris is my favorite city. There I said it. I have spent enough time in other international cities to know, that yes, as cliché as it may be, Paris has my heart. Proof? I voluntarily read this book about its urban planning and its civil servants. But this is 19th century Paris, and its planning is unlike any other, and its civil servant, Georges-Eugène Haussmann, is its master.
The Paris I and others enjoy today is because of Baron Haussmann's tenacity, drive, and ingenuity (ie. corruption); however, author Stephane Kirkland really wants to point out that Haussmann should receive very little credit for the city's current beauty. Haussmann, he will tell you, proffered up no original idea, had no talent for design, and just implemented ideas that had been languishing prior the Napoleon III's regime and those devised by the emperor himself. Why! He never even picked up an axe. The only thing that he did was, was, well, he made it all happen. In twenty years he, in the face of much opposition for various reasons, remade Paris. Unlike Chicago, San Francisco, and London that had to be rebuilt after great devastation, he took a (semi)functioning city, leveled it, and made it anew. He improved its sewer system, provided clean drinking water, built thoroughfares, new housing, parks, theatres, promenades-- basically Paris as we know it.
Kirkland laments the loss of the medieval city that existed before. The city of Les Mis and the French Revolution is gone; the original city housed on the Ile de Cite, home to both Notre Dame and 15,000 people no longer exists. Haussmann and Napoleon III erased the old Paris, which had they been a little more astute, they could have incorporated into the new city. All of us who love Paris would appreciate some relic of its past. While we might all get a little "Midnight in Paris" about it all and harken for the past, the medieval city didn't sound very pleasant. There was hardly any sewer system (there were people who would shovel up your excrement, put in a barrel, and wheel it out of the city to dump it; if you've ever had to take a stool sample, you understand exactly how disgusting that is); people had to let their drinking water sit for a day to let the sediment sink to the bottom; the street were a maze, crowded with horses, carriages, handcarts, people, and filth; basically, not a city that inspires beauty. The building of the new city did bring new forms of unpleasantness: corruption, marginalization of the poor, extreme wealth, roaring deficits-- everything that made the Second Empire the Second Empire.
This book is very informative, but Kirkland doesn't have the verve like Erik Larson who can add some dynamism to narratives about people building things. The writing is a bit tedious and at times I wondered if I would finish it. He often tried to put interesting tidbits throughout, but these felt episodic and didn't really add to the narrative itself. He did at one small point bring up the Impressionists in regards to a cityscape by Renoir that is notable for capturing both the old and the new city. This, for me, is very interesting, and I would have liked to see a picture of it or know of its title, but neither of these were provided. This made me realize the disjointedness of historical narratives. I have read several books about 19th century Paris, mostly about the Impressionists, and Haussmann is always mentioned, but he is often treated the same way Kirkland treats Renoir, as in passing. When I think about the early Impressionists, I never think of the fact that their city, like their art, is being transformed from old to new. The old, brown paintings, like the old, brown city, is eschewed for new vistas, new techniques, and a new way of living. Both are in flux and face great opposition. Today, what do we flock to? Paris and the Impressionists.
The Paris I and others enjoy today is because of Baron Haussmann's tenacity, drive, and ingenuity (ie. corruption); however, author Stephane Kirkland really wants to point out that Haussmann should receive very little credit for the city's current beauty. Haussmann, he will tell you, proffered up no original idea, had no talent for design, and just implemented ideas that had been languishing prior the Napoleon III's regime and those devised by the emperor himself. Why! He never even picked up an axe. The only thing that he did was, was, well, he made it all happen. In twenty years he, in the face of much opposition for various reasons, remade Paris. Unlike Chicago, San Francisco, and London that had to be rebuilt after great devastation, he took a (semi)functioning city, leveled it, and made it anew. He improved its sewer system, provided clean drinking water, built thoroughfares, new housing, parks, theatres, promenades-- basically Paris as we know it.
Kirkland laments the loss of the medieval city that existed before. The city of Les Mis and the French Revolution is gone; the original city housed on the Ile de Cite, home to both Notre Dame and 15,000 people no longer exists. Haussmann and Napoleon III erased the old Paris, which had they been a little more astute, they could have incorporated into the new city. All of us who love Paris would appreciate some relic of its past. While we might all get a little "Midnight in Paris" about it all and harken for the past, the medieval city didn't sound very pleasant. There was hardly any sewer system (there were people who would shovel up your excrement, put in a barrel, and wheel it out of the city to dump it; if you've ever had to take a stool sample, you understand exactly how disgusting that is); people had to let their drinking water sit for a day to let the sediment sink to the bottom; the street were a maze, crowded with horses, carriages, handcarts, people, and filth; basically, not a city that inspires beauty. The building of the new city did bring new forms of unpleasantness: corruption, marginalization of the poor, extreme wealth, roaring deficits-- everything that made the Second Empire the Second Empire.
This book is very informative, but Kirkland doesn't have the verve like Erik Larson who can add some dynamism to narratives about people building things. The writing is a bit tedious and at times I wondered if I would finish it. He often tried to put interesting tidbits throughout, but these felt episodic and didn't really add to the narrative itself. He did at one small point bring up the Impressionists in regards to a cityscape by Renoir that is notable for capturing both the old and the new city. This, for me, is very interesting, and I would have liked to see a picture of it or know of its title, but neither of these were provided. This made me realize the disjointedness of historical narratives. I have read several books about 19th century Paris, mostly about the Impressionists, and Haussmann is always mentioned, but he is often treated the same way Kirkland treats Renoir, as in passing. When I think about the early Impressionists, I never think of the fact that their city, like their art, is being transformed from old to new. The old, brown paintings, like the old, brown city, is eschewed for new vistas, new techniques, and a new way of living. Both are in flux and face great opposition. Today, what do we flock to? Paris and the Impressionists.
July 8, 2017
The author did a lot of careful research for this book. He vividly illustrated how the forces we contend with today in urban planning--favoring special interests, how to pay for them, graft, displacement, and disadvantaging the poor in the service of the rich--were present at the time.
The redesign of Paris was basically a pet project of Napoleon III. Kirkland paints a detailed picture of the politics of the era; how they led to Napoleon's rise to power and taking over as Emporor.
After taking power, he was finally able to put his vision for Paris in motion.
What Kirkland also illustrates, thought I don't think that was his main purpose, is how transformational change can only take place when single minded individual with a strong personality devotes him or herself to the task. For Napoleon III, that person was Haussman. Haussmann is somewhat sympathetically portrayed, but the author doesn't shy away from his dictatorial qualities. He comes off as a faithful servant of Napoleon III, although he also sought to increase his own power and prestige while serving the Emperor. He's a "doer"--he gets the job his boss wants done, no matter what.
Kirkland makes a case for the redesign of the map of Paris not being tied exclusively to the determination to put down revolutions more easily, and although I was skeptical of that at first, he makes a good case for it. The vanity, social vision, and grandiosity of Napoleon III and the social climbing and ambitions of Haussmann drove the project-- in addition to the desire for social control.
But, there had to have been more to the social control impulse because of how Napoleon rose to power. He took a republic and turned it into an empire with an almost absolute monarch. He did have a streak of "benevolent despotism"--he had some desire to build affordable and decent public housing for example. But those impulses were always secondary to building grand avenues, making the city more livable (for the rich), and making it cleaner.
My reason for giving this book 3 stars is because Kirkland doesn't comment much on the social phenomena at all. Napoleon was more of an enlightened despot than his predecessors might have been, and he clearly had a philanthropic interest in bettering the lot of the poor. But, he wanted to hold on to his power, and Kirkland doesn't analyze that piece of the equation at all in the history of how he built the city. Nor does Kirkland comment on how the redesign of the city was done to build glory for Napoleon --the plans he had to build housing for the poor didn't work out and were never quite pursued. There is also no comment on the displacement of the poor as housing prices soared or much voice for the dissenters except to portray them as backward, anti-progress, curmudgeons who simply missed the "old Paris."
Kirkland also tended to digress into the details of the social events and celebrity gossip more than was warranted to give background to the story. I found myself slogging through parts of the book that did not seem to add to the overall theme.
The redesign of Paris was basically a pet project of Napoleon III. Kirkland paints a detailed picture of the politics of the era; how they led to Napoleon's rise to power and taking over as Emporor.
After taking power, he was finally able to put his vision for Paris in motion.
What Kirkland also illustrates, thought I don't think that was his main purpose, is how transformational change can only take place when single minded individual with a strong personality devotes him or herself to the task. For Napoleon III, that person was Haussman. Haussmann is somewhat sympathetically portrayed, but the author doesn't shy away from his dictatorial qualities. He comes off as a faithful servant of Napoleon III, although he also sought to increase his own power and prestige while serving the Emperor. He's a "doer"--he gets the job his boss wants done, no matter what.
Kirkland makes a case for the redesign of the map of Paris not being tied exclusively to the determination to put down revolutions more easily, and although I was skeptical of that at first, he makes a good case for it. The vanity, social vision, and grandiosity of Napoleon III and the social climbing and ambitions of Haussmann drove the project-- in addition to the desire for social control.
But, there had to have been more to the social control impulse because of how Napoleon rose to power. He took a republic and turned it into an empire with an almost absolute monarch. He did have a streak of "benevolent despotism"--he had some desire to build affordable and decent public housing for example. But those impulses were always secondary to building grand avenues, making the city more livable (for the rich), and making it cleaner.
My reason for giving this book 3 stars is because Kirkland doesn't comment much on the social phenomena at all. Napoleon was more of an enlightened despot than his predecessors might have been, and he clearly had a philanthropic interest in bettering the lot of the poor. But, he wanted to hold on to his power, and Kirkland doesn't analyze that piece of the equation at all in the history of how he built the city. Nor does Kirkland comment on how the redesign of the city was done to build glory for Napoleon --the plans he had to build housing for the poor didn't work out and were never quite pursued. There is also no comment on the displacement of the poor as housing prices soared or much voice for the dissenters except to portray them as backward, anti-progress, curmudgeons who simply missed the "old Paris."
Kirkland also tended to digress into the details of the social events and celebrity gossip more than was warranted to give background to the story. I found myself slogging through parts of the book that did not seem to add to the overall theme.
May 2, 2021
Paris is one of my favourite cities to walk around in at any time of day, to admire the buildings and monuments from the beautiful boulevards, squares and bridges. I have long been fascinated by how it got that way, knowing that it was once smelly, dusty and dirty as well as full of small streets that didn’t go straight through and were crowded with houses and markets that impaired the sight lines to key places like Notre Dame Cathedral. As Paris did not have enough bridges acrross the Seine getting across the river was a time consuming, and meandering challenge. In addition Paris had poor lighting at night, no proper water and sewer lines and tons of horses producing waste. In Paris Reborn Stephane Kirkland relates the history of the makeover of Paris in such a way that anyone reading it can understand how and why the transformation happened. Yes, we get that the people of Paris in the mid 19th Century took the burden during those years of higher taxes, debt financing and mass expropriation of land and buildings. Most of us can’t imagine what it would be like to go through those decades but had it not been done at that time Paris would not have become the stunning world capital that it is today. The only thing I would have wanted changed about Stephane Kirkland’s book would have been to add more diagrams, paintings or photographs of the city as it was (knowing that some of those might have been destroyed by fire or not archived) and more current photographs that show what the results of that mid 19th Century transformation look like now.
November 1, 2022
Considering that the author is not historian, this is a good account on Paris urban transformation in the Age of Capital and recommended as an introductory book on the subject. In my opinion the value of the book would be more if author included illustrations, particularly maps indicating the changes occurred during Second Empire for readers to understand better the magnitude of the Grand Travaux.
Description of the lives and character of notable personalities and influencers of this period was a good addition in the narrative, however it was also destructive and sometimes confusing chronologically. It is clear that like today's urban transformation schemes, Second Empire's Grand Travaux came with a complicated mixture of politics and power. For Parisian architecture lovers it is evident know that the nostalgic notion of 'Haussmanian' architecture embodies the complete removal of valuable medieval urban fabric (the part where Ile De Cite modernized caused me goosebumps) and the destruction of working-class neighborhoods of the day. In other words, it is plausible, today contemporary Parisians would engage in a bottom-up approach taking into consideration the voice of marginalized citizens
Extracts:
' The public spaces and many new streets being created across the city were only one aspect of the grand travaux. The city as a functioning entity went through deep changes in many ways'
' The result is that, while in most cities population density drops off quickly as one leaves the central core, in Paris the dense urban fabric covers the entire city and extends in some places into the suburbs.... This extremely compact urban environment is an essential part of Paris's character'
' The grand travaux represented a colossal investment. Their total cost, between 1853 and 1870, was 2.5 billion francs - more than the annual budget of France, which averaged between 2.1 and 2.4 billion francs during the years of the Second Empire - even though it was, of course spent over seventeen years and was not actually funded by the national budget'
Description of the lives and character of notable personalities and influencers of this period was a good addition in the narrative, however it was also destructive and sometimes confusing chronologically. It is clear that like today's urban transformation schemes, Second Empire's Grand Travaux came with a complicated mixture of politics and power. For Parisian architecture lovers it is evident know that the nostalgic notion of 'Haussmanian' architecture embodies the complete removal of valuable medieval urban fabric (the part where Ile De Cite modernized caused me goosebumps) and the destruction of working-class neighborhoods of the day. In other words, it is plausible, today contemporary Parisians would engage in a bottom-up approach taking into consideration the voice of marginalized citizens
Extracts:
' The public spaces and many new streets being created across the city were only one aspect of the grand travaux. The city as a functioning entity went through deep changes in many ways'
' The result is that, while in most cities population density drops off quickly as one leaves the central core, in Paris the dense urban fabric covers the entire city and extends in some places into the suburbs.... This extremely compact urban environment is an essential part of Paris's character'
' The grand travaux represented a colossal investment. Their total cost, between 1853 and 1870, was 2.5 billion francs - more than the annual budget of France, which averaged between 2.1 and 2.4 billion francs during the years of the Second Empire - even though it was, of course spent over seventeen years and was not actually funded by the national budget'
October 9, 2018
I found the book to be very poorly written. Although Kirkland argues that he is focused on telling the history of the modernization of Paris with an emphasis on Napoleon III's under-appreciated role, scant attention is actually given to Napoleon. Instead, the book features a saga of relatively insignificant historical minutiae (short biographies or references to still-extant Paris landmarks), abrupt and jarring transitions, and an overall inability to stay within the confines of any discernible theme.
The book ultimately fails by trying to do too much in too little space (i.e. trying to cram an entire era of French history into under 300 pages - for instance, why should the reader care about wars with only passing relevance to the book's subject matter when that space would be better devoted to what the title of the book suggests it is about) and comes across as a confusing jumble of historical facts interspersed with the author's occasional commentary (for example, that Napoleon missed a great opportunity to create better worker housing - ok, how so? What should he have done instead?).
Perhaps the book deserves 1 star, but I'll give it 2 just because it reminded me of how lovely Paris is.
The book ultimately fails by trying to do too much in too little space (i.e. trying to cram an entire era of French history into under 300 pages - for instance, why should the reader care about wars with only passing relevance to the book's subject matter when that space would be better devoted to what the title of the book suggests it is about) and comes across as a confusing jumble of historical facts interspersed with the author's occasional commentary (for example, that Napoleon missed a great opportunity to create better worker housing - ok, how so? What should he have done instead?).
Perhaps the book deserves 1 star, but I'll give it 2 just because it reminded me of how lovely Paris is.
June 11, 2020
Fascinating book! It does not have the most "scholarly" tone compared to other history books I have read, but the subject matter is absolutely riveting! I am not well versed in French history aside from the French Revolution (and that is rusty!). However, having visited Paris multiple times in recent years, I have come to love the city and it's style, appearance, architecture, and streetscape. The book goes into the history that led to the rule of Napoleon III and the rise of Baron Haussman to his role in the administration of Paris. Having set the stage, you learn about specific initiatives and milestones of the projects that led to the Paris that the world knows and loves today. Being a finance guy, I particularly enjoyed the discussion of the financing of the projects along with other money aspects. This book is wonderful for those who love the City of Lights, thought it might be a little "light" for those fans of serious history.
October 5, 2023
I reread this in preparation for a return to Pairis. It is strictly history; very little outside of facts, but I like that. It is very dense with facts that follow the rise of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte and George Hausman, their destruction of medieval Paris and redevelopment of the city beautiful that it is today. The author is unsparing in his criticism of the utter contempt Hausman and Bonaparte had for the ordinary citizens of the day who were pushed out of their homes, or of the character they stripped from the ancient city. It details the superior attitude the ruling class had and the corruption that accompanied the reshaping of the city. It also speaks to how, without these men, Paris would not be the most beautiful city that it is today and how such a social experiment is not likely to every happen again.
August 22, 2018
This was a fascinating look at the history of the urban redesign of Paris during the Second Empire period. As I'll be traveling to Paris in a few weeks, I thought this would provide some good insight for the trip. Kirkland provides much detail into the various projects involved in the overall plan and how they fit together. He also helps the reader to understand how the politics of the time folded into the actual work. My one recommendation for a future edition would be to include maps. For those of us who have yet to travel to Paris, it was sometimes difficult to picture it in my mind, and having a visual aid provided would have enhanced the reading experience. Overall, great work, and highly recommended for anyone with an interest in Parisian history!
June 20, 2024
This book gives the reader a good look at the redevelopment of Paris in the middle of the nineteenth century. I like how it introduced the various characters and the history was told with a strong narrative while throwing in specific excerpts from historical documents.
However, I would've liked if the author spent a bit more time describing the historical events on the periphery. As someone who isn't a strong Francophile, a lot of specifics around Napoleon III, the end of the monarchy, and the Paris Commune were touched on too lightly and I definitely would've preferred a bit more background on each of these.
However, I would've liked if the author spent a bit more time describing the historical events on the periphery. As someone who isn't a strong Francophile, a lot of specifics around Napoleon III, the end of the monarchy, and the Paris Commune were touched on too lightly and I definitely would've preferred a bit more background on each of these.
January 19, 2022
The Second French Empire is a subject I find fascinating, and this book helped shed more light and understanding of its legacy. Though the meticulous detail laid out in the book is overwhelming at times, it's no less amazing how the redesigning of Paris was essentially a chaotic financial and political battle that served everyone well in the end. What it needed was someone to get the actual work off the ground and a dictator happy to indulge him. It's hard to say if the same could have been accomplished without the massive curtailing of civil liberties.
August 13, 2017
I wanted to read this before visiting Paris again for the first time in 25 years. It was cool to get the history of how this beautiful lady came to be and it appealed to my inner urban planning geek. Sadly, I only finished about 75% of it pre-trip. Most people probably would have just let the rest go, but I rarely don't finish books, so while the last part dragged a bit for me without Paris in my future sight, I'm still glad I (finally) finished it.
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