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Paris from the Ground Up
by James H. S. McgregorParis is the most personal of cities. There is a Paris for the medievalist, and another for the modernist-a Paris for expatriates, philosophers, artists, romantics, and revolutionaries of every stripe. James H. S. McGregor brings these multiple perspectives into focus throughout this concise, unique history of the City of Light. His panorama begins with an ancient Gallic fortress on the Seine, burned to the ground by its own defenders in a vain effort to starve out Caesar's legions. After ninth-century raids by the Vikings ended, Parisians expanded the walls of their tiny sanctuary on the Ile de la Cité, turning the river#x19;s right bank into a thriving commercial district and the Rive Gauche into a college town. Gothic spires expressed a taste for architectural novelty, matched only by the palaces and pleasure gardens of successive monarchs whose ingenuity made Paris the epitome of everything French. The fires of Revolution threatened all that had come before, but Baron Haussmann saw opportunity in the wreckage. No planned city in the world is more famous than his. Paris from the Ground Up allows readers to trace the city's evolution in its architecture and art-from the Roman arena to the Musée Orsay, from the Louvre's defensive foundations to I. M. Pei's transparent pyramids.
París Guía Visual (Travel Guide)
by DK Eyewitness¡Bienvenidos a París! La guía más actualizada de ParísParís es una ciudad única: rebosante de historia, edificios majestuosos, preciosas placitas, importantes museos y con maravillosos secretos por descubrir.Observa impresionantes vistas desde la Torre Eiffel, contempla obras de arte de primer orden en el Museo del Louvre, admira las vidrieras de la Sainte Chapelle, pasea por los Campos Elíseos y disfruta de la gastronomía francesa en un bistrot. La Guía Visual de París cuenta con exclusivas ilustraciones, planos en 3D, itinerarios, explicaciones detalladas de los principales monumentos y recomendaciones de restaurantes, hoteles y lugares de ocio.La Guía Visual de París ofrece información práctica sobre transportes, horarios y visitas.Welcome to Europe’s most magical destination ParisWhether you want to view the ever-changing street art on Rue Dénoyezor, venture to opulent Versailles or learn to cook from the masters at La Cuisine, this travel guide makes sure you experience all that Paris has to offer.A treasure trove of things to see and do, the French capital is packed full of world-famous palaces, museums and galleries. But Parisians know that there is more to life than glitz and glamor. Simpler pleasures, such as stalls overflowing with fresh produce, quirky old bookshops and centuries-old cafés, are offered in abundance.Our updated guide brings Paris to life, transporting you there like no other travel guide does with expert-led insights, trusted travel advice, detailed breakdowns of all the must-see sights, photographs on practically every page, and our hand-drawn illustrations which place you inside the city's iconic buildings and neighborhoods.
Paris, I Love You but You're Bringing Me Down
by Rosecrans BaldwinA fresh, exhilarating take on one of the world's most popular topics—Paris, the City of Light!—by an acclaimed novelist Rosecrans BaldwinA self-described Francophile since the age of nine, Rosecrans Baldwin had always dreamed of living in France. So when an offer presented itself to work at a Parisian ad agency, he couldn't turn it down—even though he had no experience in advertising, and even though he hardly spoke French.But the Paris that Rosecrans and his wife, Rachel, arrived in wasn't the romantic city he remembered, and over the next eighteen months, his dogged American optimism was put to the test: at work (where he wrote booklets on breastfeeding), at home (in the hub of a massive construction project), and at every confusing dinner party in between. A hilarious and refreshingly honest look at one of our most beloved cities, Paris, I Love Youbut You're Bringing Me Down is the story of a young man whose preconceptions are usurped by the oddities of a vigorous, nervy metropolis—which is just what he needs to fall in love with Paris a second time.
Paris in Bloom
by Georgianna Lane&“Get ready for a beauty overload. It&’s food for the soul, it&’s a book of dreams and details, of flowers so perfect you want to hug them to you.&” —Carla Coulson, author of Paris Tango Paris—City of Love, City of Light, City of Flowers. From elegant floral boutiques to lively flower markets to glorious blooming trees and expansive public gardens, flowers are the essential ingredient to the lush sensory bouquet that is Parisian life. With beautiful photography, Paris in Bloom transports readers on a stunning floral tour of the city, and provides recommendations to the best flower markets and a detailed guide to spring blooms. Timeless in content, Paris in Bloom is a book for Paris lovers to savor again and again, one to keep on the nightstand to conjure fond memories of their first visit and inspire dreams of the next. &“Brilliantly captures the splendor of French fleurs with lush photographs and elegant prose . . . A masterpiece!&” —Laura Dowling, former chief floral designer at the White House &“I don&’t know how Georgianna does it. She manages to make Paris, already the most beautiful city in the world, appear even more charming, more elegant and more beautiful than it already is . . . Paris in Bloom is filled with a veritable carpet of pinks and whites, pastels and green portraits that make me let out an audible sigh of joy. This book can re-inspire you to believe that yes, life really is quite beautiful.&” —Doni Belau, author of Paris Cocktails &“Destined to become a classic of its type, Paris in Bloom is Georgianna Lane&’s love letter to Paris and to flowers.&”—Gray Levett, editor of Nikon Owner magazine
Paris in Color
by Nichole RobertsonThe City of Light comes alive with color in this “fresh, ‘oh!’-inducing look at the palette of a city we only thought we knew” (Real Simple).Take a journey through the world’s most romantic city, traveling from color to magnificent color with this beguiling book. An orange café chair, bright blue bicycles against a fence, a weathered white door—Nichole Robertson’s sumptuous photographs of the distinctive details of Paris, all arranged by color, evoke a sense of serendipitous discovery and celebrate the city as never before. At once a work of art and a window into the heart of the city, Paris in Color will surprise and delight those who love art, design, color, and, of course, Paris!
Paris in Love: A Memoir
by Eloisa James<P>In 2009, New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James took a leap that many people dream about: she sold her house, took a sabbatical from her job as a Shakespeare professor, and moved her family to Paris. <P>Paris in Love: A Memoir chronicles her joyful year in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. With no classes to teach, no committee meetings to attend, no lawn to mow or cars to park, Eloisa revels in the ordinary pleasures of life--discovering corner museums that tourists overlook, chronicling Frenchwomen's sartorial triumphs, walking from one end of Paris to another. <P>She copes with her Italian husband's notions of quality time; her two hilarious children, ages eleven and fifteen, as they navigate schools--not to mention puberty--in a foreign language; and her mother-in-law Marina's raised eyebrow in the kitchen (even as Marina overfeeds Milo, the family dog). <P>Paris in Love invites the reader into the life of a most enchanting family, framed by la ville de l'amour. <P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
Paris in Love: A Memoir
by Eloisa JamesA New York Times Bestseller. After years of living vicariously through the heroines in her novels, bestselling author Eloisa James takes a leap that most of us can only daydream about. She sells her house, leaves her job as a Shakespeare professor, and packs her husband and two protesting children off to Paris. Grand plans are abandoned as she falls under the spell of daily life as a Parisienne exquisite food, long walks by the Seine, reading in bed, displays of effortless chic around every corner, and being reminded of what really matters in a place where people seem to kiss all the time. Against one of the world s most picturesque backdrops, she copes with her Italian husband s notions of quality time; her two hilarious children, ages eleven and fifteen, as they navigate schools not to mention puberty in a foreign language; and her formidable mother-in-law, Marina, who believes dogs should be fed prosciutto and wives should live in the kitchen. An irresistible love letter to a city that will make you want to head there, Paris in Love is also a joyful testament to the pleasures of savouring life.
Paris in Love
by Nichole RobertsonThe author of Paris in Color narrows her scope, celebrating the French capital with alluring and romantic photographs of the city&’s come-hither reds. A pair of scarlet-rimmed coffee cups, two glasses of Bordeaux, light glowing rosily from a street lamp, a bouquet of bright red flowers—Nichole Robertson&’s follow-up to the beloved Paris in Color captures the hidden corners and secret moments that make Paris the most romantic city in the world. A love letter in rouge to the City of Light, Paris in Love is the perfect valentine for anyone who adores Paris! &“A beautiful ode that will leave you pining for Paris.&” —Lindsey Tramuta, author of The New Paris &“That magic feeling you get when you are falling in love with a person or place—in this case Paris!—is encapsulated in this stunning gem of a book.&” —Samantha Hahn, author of Well-Read Women &“We&’re smitten by Nichole Robertson&’s Paris in Love, which celebrates all things Parisian—especially crimson things, from raspberry tarts to scarlet mopeds, rosy begonias and glossy, berry-hued cafe chairs—in glorious photographs.&” —San Jose Mercury News
Paris In Mind
by Jennifer Lee“Paris is a moveable feast,” Ernest Hemingway famously wrote, and in this captivating anthology, American writers share their pleasures, obsessions, and quibbles with the great city and its denizens. Mark Twain celebrates the unbridled energy of the Can-Can. Sylvia Beach recalls the excitement of opening Shakespeare & Company on the Rue Dupuytren. David Sedaris praises Parisians for keeping quiet at the movies. These are just a few of the writers assembled here, and each selection is as surprising and rewarding as the next. Including essays, book excerpts, letters, articles, and journal entries, this seductive collection captures the long and passionate relationship Americans have had with Paris. Accompanied by an illuminating introduction,Paris in Mindis sure to be a fascinating voyage for literary travelers. Jennifer Allen * Deborah Baldwin * James Baldwin * Dave Barry * Sylvia Beach * Saul Bellow * Bricktop * Art Buchwald * T. S. Eliot * M. F. K. Fisher * Janet Flanner * Benjamin Franklin * Ernest Hemingway *Langston Hughes * Thomas Jefferson * Stanley Karnow * Patric Kuh * A. J. Liebling * Anaïs Nin * Grant Rosenberg * David Sedaris * Irwin Shaw *Gertrude Stein * Mark Twain * Edith Wharton * E. B. White From the Trade Paperback edition.
Paris Like a Local (Local Travel Guide)
by DK Eyewitness Yuki Higashinakano Bryan PirolliDiscover the hidden secrets of Paris, the city of lights, with this fantastic city guide that will have you vacationing like a local in no time at allWhether you&’re a first time to the city of love, or a returnee to Paris, this is the perfect guide to an authentic experience from a local&’s perspective. No matter how often you&’ve been to Paris, this stylist guide will help you discover even more authentic experiences in this magical cityThis one-of-a-kind travel guide to Paris includes: • Two-color, bold modern design with contemporary illustrations throughout • Narrative style throughout, making the local, personal voice central to every entry • Structured by six themes and subsequent sub-themes, rather than areas, to echo how people are traveling, rather than where. Themes include Eat, Drink, Shop, and more! • Each entry includes its unique address so readers can pinpoint precisely where they are heading • Each theme ends with a tour spread, dedicated to a specific interest or experience. For example, &“An Atypical Arty Afternoon&” and &“A Night Out Along the Seine&” • Created keeping in mind readers traveling in a post-Covid worldExperience France&’s capital like a true ParisianHome to cutting-edge haute cuisine, vibrant little cafes, elegant river-side gardens, and a shopping scene like no other, this charming city is bathed in style and romance! Go beyond the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre and unearth the secret side of the city. Who better to guide you to it than locals? From the best pâtisseries and wine bars to dreamy viewpoints and modern art spaces, this Paris guidebook will help you find all the local&’s favorite hangout spots and hidden haunts. Dine alfresco at a cute café in the Marais, cycle along the tree-lined Canal Saint-Martin, and bargain for vintage treasures at the city&’s beloved flea markets. More in the seriesFrom New York and London to San Francisco and Tokyo, there are more places to discover with these niche local guides! Written by the people who call it home, the Like A Local series from DK takes you beyond the tourist track to experience the heart and soul of each city!
Paris, Paris
by Diane Johnson David Downie Alison Harris"Beautifully written and refreshingly original... makes us see [Paris] in a different light." -- San Francisco Chronicle Book Review Swapping his native San Francisco for the City of Light, travel writer David Downie arrived in Paris in 1986 on a one-way ticket, his head full of romantic notions. Curiosity and the legs of a cross-country runner propelled him daily from an unheated, seventh-floor walk-up garret near the Champs-Elysées to the old Montmartre haunts of the doomed painter Modigliani, the tombs of Père-Lachaise cemetery, the luxuriant alleys of the Luxembourg Gardens and the aristocratic Île Saint-Louis midstream in the Seine.Downie wound up living in the chic Marais district, married to the Paris-born American photographer Alison Harris, an equally incurable walker and chronicler. Ten books and a quarter-century later, he still spends several hours every day rambling through Paris, and writing about the city he loves. An irreverent, witty romp featuring thirty-one short prose sketches of people, places and daily life, Paris, Paris: Journey into the City of Light ranges from the glamorous to the least-known corners and characters of the world's favorite city. Photographs by Alison Harris. "I loved his collection of essays and anyone who's visited Paris in the past, or plans to visit in the future, will be equally charmed as well." --David Lebovitz, author of The Sweet Life in Paris "[A] quirky, personal, independent view of the city, its history and its people"--Mavis Gallant "Gives fresh poetic insight into the city... a voyage into 'the bends and recesses, the jagged edges, the secret interiors' [of Paris]."-- DeparturesFrom the Trade Paperback edition.
Paris Primitive: Jacques Chirac's Museum on the Quai Branly
by Sally PriceParis Primitive recounts the massive reconfiguration of Paris’s museum world that resulted from Chirac’s dream, set against a backdrop of personal and national politics, intellectual life, and the role of culture in French society. Along with exposing the machinations that led to the MQB’s creation, Sally Price addresses the thorny questions it raises about the legacy of colonialism, the balance between aesthetic judgments and ethnographic context, and the role of institutions of art and culture in an increasingly diverse France.
París rebelde: Guía política y turística de una ciudad
by Ignacio Ramonet Ramón ChaoUn recorrido ágil y entretenido por la rebeldía de una de las ciudades más fascinantes de Europa. Al grito de «¡La imaginación al poder!», la revuelta estudiantil de mayo del 68 no hacía sino recoger una larga tradición: desde la Revolución de 1789, París es la ciudad del mundo en que se han producido más revueltas populares, insurrecciones y levantamientos de repercusión universal. Un carácter revolucionario que se refleja también en lo literario y artístico, pues en esa ciudad nacieron muchos movimientos estéticos contra el orden establecido: realismo, simbolismo, impresionismo, dadaísmo, surrealismo y demás vanguardias. Esta guía es una forma diferente de leer la ciudad, paseando por los lugares, pero también por los textos de Bolívar,Marx, Bakunin, Lenin o Che Guevara, entre tantos otros insurrectos que acudieron a París buscando la inspiración política en sus tertulias, sus librerías y sus jardines. En ella, el turista inquieto podrá seguir el rastro de los protagonistas de esta historia de la revolución: sus domicilios, los cafés de reunión y conspiración, las plazas y las barricadas en las que muchos ganaron la historia y perdieron la vida. Rincones que conservan la memoria de varios siglos de lucha.
Paris Revealed: The Secret Life of a City
by Stephen ClarkeA hilarious insider&’s guide to Paris by the author of 1000 Years of Annoying the French: &“Clarke&’s eye for detail is terrific&” (The Washington Post). Stephen Clarke may have adopted Paris as his home, but he still has an Englishman&’s eye for the people, cafés, art, sidewalks, food, fashion, and romance that make Paris a one-of-a-kind city. This irreverent outsider-turned-insider guide shares local savoir faire, from how to separate the good restaurants from the bad to navigating the baffling Métro system. It also provides invaluable insights into the etiquette of public urination and the best ways to experience Parisian life without annoying the Parisians (a truly delicate art). Clarke&’s witty and expert tour of the city leaves no boulevard unexplored—even those that might be better left alone.
A Paris Secret: A heartbreaking new historical novel of love, secrets and family to read in 2020!
by Caroline MontagueA sweeping tale of ambition and passion in the shattered world of post-war Paris - perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore and Kate Furnivall1952. In the fragile atmosphere of post-war Paris, Sophie Bernot is training as a heart surgeon. A young woman in a man's world, Sophie is determined to bury her past and forge her medical career, whatever the costs.Across the channel, Sebastian Ogilvie is burning with ambition for his first architectural project. As his schemes lead him to France, and to a chance encounter with Sophie, his future seems full of promise. But when Sophie and Sebastian find themselves entangled in a brief, passionate affair, they each face a choice that will change their lives irrevocably, and a secret that will take years to be uncovered... Sweeping from Paris to London, to the snow-capped peaks of the Alps, this is an unforgettable story of passion, heartache and forgiveness.
A Paris Secret: A heartbreaking historical novel of love, secrets and family
by Caroline MontagueA sweeping tale of ambition and passion in the shattered world of post-war Paris - perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore and Kate Furnivall1952. In the fragile atmosphere of post-war Paris, Sophie Bernot is training as a heart surgeon. A young woman in a man's world, Sophie is determined to bury her past and forge her medical career, whatever the costs.Across the channel, Sebastian Ogilvie is burning with ambition for his first architectural project. As his schemes lead him to France, and to a chance encounter with Sophie, his future seems full of promise. But when Sophie and Sebastian find themselves entangled in a brief, passionate affair, they each face a choice that will change their lives irrevocably, and a secret that will take years to be uncovered... Sweeping from Paris to London, to the snow-capped peaks of the Alps, this is an unforgettable story of passion, heartache and forgiveness.
A Paris Secret: A heartbreaking historical novel of love, secrets and family
by Caroline MontagueA sweeping tale of ambition and passion in the shattered world of post-war Paris - perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore and Kate Furnivall1952. In the fragile atmosphere of post-war Paris, Sophie Bernot is training as a heart surgeon. A young woman in a man's world, Sophie is determined to bury her past and forge her medical career, whatever the costs.Across the channel, Sebastian Ogilvie is burning with ambition for his first architectural project. As his schemes lead him to France, and to a chance encounter with Sophie, his future seems full of promise. But when Sophie and Sebastian find themselves entangled in a brief, passionate affair, they each face a choice that will change their lives irrevocably, and a secret that will take years to be uncovered... Sweeping from Paris to London, to the snow-capped peaks of the Alps, this is an unforgettable story of passion, heartache and forgiveness.
The Paris Sketch Book
by William Makepeace Thackeray"The Paris Sketch Book" is a look at France shortly after the time of Napoleon. The author William Makepeace Thackeray is famous for his dry wit and for his other classic books "Vanity Fair" and "Barry Lyndon". He is also credited with inventing a new word 'snob' in his novel "The Book of Snobs, by One of Themselves"
The Paris Style Guide: Shop, Eat, Sleep
by Elodie RambaudA Parisian Stylist's Guide to the Best Shopping in the City of Light In this sophisticated insider's guide to the best of Paris shopping, stylist and interior decorator Elodie Rambaud provides a personal tour of the city, pointing out choice boutiques of every kind, mapping out the best shopping routes, and listing not-to-be-missed destinations in every quarter. With this book in hand, every dimension of Parisian shopping and the best of daily life is at your fingertips, from flea markets to artisan workshops, from bustling cafés to little-known gardens.Inside you'll find: An extensive list of more than 200 shopping destinations of every kind: trendsetting décor and antiques sellers, local green markets and gourmet food shops, craft suppliers and couture ateliers, and everything in between The address, telephone number, and Web site for every listing, as well as the closest metro station Valuable travel advice, including recommendations for hotels, cafés, bars, patisseries, festivals, salons, and markets Beautiful full-color photographs of every shop or location and comprehensive illustrated maps of the city, along with suggested itinerariesWhether you're traveling to Paris or exploring it from home, this gorgeous volume enables you to experience the city like a native.
Paris Times Eight: Finding Myself in the City of Dreams
by Deirdre Kelly&“Very engaging . . . This charming travel memoir shows us how a person and a city can grow and change in tandem.&” —Booklist Over eight visits to Paris, Deirdre Kelly has found herself—first as a nineteen-year-old and then later as a budding writer, a dance critic, and a fashion reporter. Subsequent visits—with her mother, her future husband, and later as a mother herself—have shown her that while some parts of Paris remain constant, her life is always evolving. More than just a beautiful and romantic backdrop for her self-discovery, Paris itself contributes to that discovery, emerging as a principal character in Kelly&’s life, an influence that inspires, guides, and teaches as she ages. A terrific gift for budding travelers, Francophiles, and women on their own path toward growth, this book reminds readers of their own favorite place. &“A poignant, honest, and deliciously sexy coming-of-age story.&” —Jan Wong, national bestselling author of Beijing Confidential &“Deirdre Kelly&’s writing is fast-paced and full of color and gives the reader an insider&’s view. She gets it right.&” —Sally Armstrong, national bestselling author of The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor &“Takes the reader on a colorful travelogue along the narrow streets of the Marais district, the spectacular Tuileries gardens and the bustling Galleries Lafayette department store . . . a fast-paced, breezy read, its substance subtly woven into a tale of a city whose glamour and beauty never fades.&” —Ottawa Citizen &“At times pensive, sardonic and laugh-out-loud funny, as it chronicles a real life with all its comedies and tragedies.&” —Calgary Herald
Paris to the Moon: A Family In France (A\vintage Original Ser.)
by Adam GopnikParis. The name alone conjures images of chestnut-lined boulevards, sidewalk cafés, breathtaking façades around every corner--in short, an exquisite romanticism that has captured the American imagination for as long as there have been Americans. In 1995, Adam Gopnik, his wife, and their infant son left the familiar comforts and hassles of New York City for the urbane glamour of the City of Light. Gopnik is a longtime New Yorker writer, and the magazine has sent its writers to Paris for decades--but his was above all a personal pilgrimage to the place that had for so long been the undisputed capital of everything cultural and beautiful. It was also the opportunity to raise a child who would know what it was to romp in the Luxembourg Gardens, to enjoy a croque monsieur in a Left Bank café--a child (and perhaps a father, too) who would have a grasp of that Parisian sense of style we Americans find so elusive. So, in the grand tradition of the American abroad, Gopnik walked the paths of the Tuileries, enjoyed philosophical discussions at his local bistro, wrote as violet twilight fell on the arrondissements. Of course, as readers of Gopnik's beloved and award-winning "Paris Journals" in The New Yorker know, there was also the matter of raising a child and carrying on with day-to-day, not-so-fabled life. Evenings with French intellectuals preceded middle-of-the-night baby feedings; afternoons were filled with trips to the Musée d'Orsay and pinball games; weekday leftovers were eaten while three-star chefs debated a "culinary crisis."As Gopnik describes in this funny and tender book, the dual processes of navigating a foreign city and becoming a parent are not completely dissimilar journeys--both hold new routines, new languages, a new set of rules by which everyday life is lived. With singular wit and insight, Gopnik weaves the magical with the mundane in a wholly delightful, often hilarious look at what it was to be an American family man in Paris at the end of the twentieth century. "We went to Paris for a sentimental reeducation-I did anyway-even though the sentiments we were instructed in were not the ones we were expecting to learn, which I believe is why they call it an education."
Paris to the Past: Traveling through French History by Train
by Ina Caro"I'd rather go to France with Ina Caro than with ?Henry Adams or Henry James."--Newsweek In one of the most inventive travel books in years, Ina Caro invites readers on twenty-five one-day train trips that depart from Paris and transport us back through seven hundred years of French history. Whether taking us to Orléans to evoke the visions of Joan of Arc or to the Place de la Concorde to witness the beheading of Marie Antoinette, Caro animates history with her lush descriptions of architectural splendors and tales of court intrigue. "[An] enchanting travelogue" (Publishers Weekly), Paris to the Past has become one of the classic guidebooks of our time.
Paris to the Pyrenees: A Skeptic Pilgrim Walks the Way of Saint James
by David DowniePart adventure story, part cultural history, Paris to the Pyrenees explores the phenomenon of pilgrimage along the age-old way of Saint James Driven by curiosity, wanderlust, and health crises, David Downie and his wife set out from Paris to walk across France to the Pyrenees. Starting on the Rue Saint-Jacques, then trekking 750 miles south to Roncesvalles, Spain, their eccentric route takes 72 days on Roman roads and pilgrimage paths--a 1,100-year-old network of trails leading to the sanctuary of Saint James the Greater. It is best known as El Camino de Santiago de Compostela--"The Way" for short. The object of any pilgrimage is an inward journey manifested in a long, reflective walk. For Downie, the inward journey met the outer one: a combination of self-discovery and physical regeneration. More than 200,000 pilgrims take the highly commercialized Spanish route annually, but few cross France. Downie had a goal: to go from Paris to the Pyrenees on age-old trails, making the pilgrimage in his own maverick way.
Paris to the Pyrenees
by David DowniePart adventure story, part cultural history, this &“enjoyably offbeat travelogue&” explores the phenomenon of the spiritual pilgrimage (Booklist). Driven by curiosity, wanderlust, and health crises, Downie and his wife walk across Paris on the old pilgrimage route Rue Saint-Jacques then trek about 750 miles south to Roncesvalles, Spain. The eccentric route would take 72 days on Roman roads and The Way of Saint James, the 1,100-year-old pilgrimage network leading to the sanctuary of Saint James the Greater in Spain. It is best known as El Camino de Santiago de Compostela - The Way for short. The object of any pilgrimage is an inward journey manifested in a long, reflective walk. For Downie, the inward journey meets the outer one. More than 20,000 pilgrims take the highly commercialized Spanish route annually, but few cross France. Downie had a goal: to go from Paris to the Pyrenees on age-old trails, making the pilgrimage in his own maverick way.