The Seine: The River That Made Paris

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars | 461 ratings

Price: 21.83

Last update: 07-28-2024


Top reviews from the United States

Sharon R Lorenz
5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book, skip the trip
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2024
A perfect book to read while snowed in. Elaine Sciolino has covered the topic of the Seine in so many ways--her personal experiences, the people and places of French history, the geography, art and artists, famous people, the bridges, the lighting, the beginning and end points of the Seine, one interesting topic after another, even movies where the Seine is featured. Like all travel books, I wish there was a photo for everything mentioned, but that gives me an opportunity to go to the computer and search out dozens of photos. I loved the book. It was just what I hoped for. A few years ago I briefly followed Elaine Sciolino's Instagram page about the Seine, but it wasn't until one of the latest issues of the Smithsonian magazine had an article written by her about Italian marble sculpture that I sought out her books. It was a delight to reconnect with her writing. Next, I am diving into her book about Life on the Rue des Martyrs.
terry
5.0 out of 5 stars great book
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2024
we love paris and all things french. this is a very entertaining book. found it at a great price.
William de Rham
4.0 out of 5 stars Everything you always wanted to know about Paris and the Seine
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2022
A finely researched, well-written examination of the river and the city, penned by an American journalist who lived there. Ms. Sciolino utilizes her wealth of knowledge about the river and its history -- and French, Parisian, and popular culture (including literature, film, music, fine arts) -- to give us a most comprehensive picture of the river so vital to the “City of Light.”

Readers will learn about the Seine's origins, its course, its flora and fauna and floods, its bridges and houseboats, the cultural events it hosts, and the many, many artists (including one who "paints" with fireworks) whom it has inspired. This is not a “travel book” in any sense. But it is perfect for anyone who’s been to Paris, or loves it, or is hoping to go, or wants to learn about it for any reason whatsoever. Fairly long and packed with information, it is not a book to be “gulped down” in a session or two. I found “sipping” a chapter or three at a time the best way to go.
Mike Hunsinger
5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect book to guide you along the Seine River from its start, through Paris, and to the sea.
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2019
I wholeheartedly endorse the previous customer review of this boo. History buffs will enjoy Sciolino's description of the Roman temple of the goddess of the Seine, Sequana, built more than 1,000 years ago near the start of the river, over 150 miles southeast of Paris. And there is plenty for even veteran visitors to the City of Paris to learn for the first time, as Sciolino spends the middle 170 pages introducing the reader to people who row in it (in historic boats), fish in it, live on it in houseboats, police it (the divers of the police department's River Brigade), and pilot barges on it (there were 15,000 bateliers working the Seine in 1950: there are now no more than 1,000), all with great stories told to an excellent story teller. We also meet Francois Jousse, the now-retired engineer who was Paris' chief lighting engineer for over 25 years, maintaining the orchestrated lighting of over 300 buildings, bridges, and boulevards that he began designing in 1981. There is also much to learn and enjoy as Sciolino guides us to the sea, ending in Honfleur and Le Havre, with stops en route to towns like Caudebec-en-Caux that for centuries endured le mascaret, a tidal wave as much as 13 feet high that roared up the Seine four times every year until it was finally harnessed in the early 1960s. This is Sciolino's third book about France, and for anyone with an interest in learning about or simply being entertained about that country, its culture, and/or its people (currently and over the past 2,000 years), his or her library should contain all three of them.
david swift
5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2024
Wonderfully written book.
Elizabeth Visco
5.0 out of 5 stars Novel historic subject of writer profession!
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2023
She did editorial writing in journalism careers. This subject of ‘The Siene River’, history by chapters set by pictures to keep along historical interests !
holly
3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2021
Wasn't expecting an explanation of the Miami Vice storyline
Some very interesting anecdotes and historical information. I prefer The Secrets of the Seine
coyote
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful writer, great book
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2020
I enjoyed this terrific writer’s earlier book, “the only street in Paris” and often think of it, and this latest work is even better.
Elaine sciolino somehow manages to weave a lot of historical information into stories and lives of people who live and work in and along the seine, along with just enough personal stuff to make you not only enjoy the trip, but the company of the guide as well.
She is an outstanding reporter, a gifted writer, a good story teller and great company.
While I had favorite sections, Every chapter was interesting.
Her research was comprehensive, from finding out about the earliest settlers to viewing the great classic about a seine boatman, “L’atalante” by jean vigo.
And her own investigations took her from haggling over books to rowing canoes, joining police patrols and visiting a boat dweller during a flood. To a cruise to le havre.
This great journalism and terrific writing.

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