Impossible City
Paris in the Twenty-First Century
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Profile Books Ltd
Publishing:6th Feb '25
£10.99
This title is due to be published on 6th February, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£18.99(9781800816480)
Simon Kuper's Impossible City is a poignant memoir that explores the complexities of contemporary Paris through personal experiences and historical events.
In Impossible City, Simon Kuper offers an insightful exploration of Paris through the lens of both a resident and a journalist. He reflects on his personal journey as he navigates the complexities of this iconic city, sharing anecdotes that reveal the beauty and harsh realities of life in Paris. From savoring croissants to attending football matches in the city's diverse banlieues, Kuper's experiences paint a vivid picture of a city that has shaped him over the years.
As he chronicles the changes Paris has undergone in the twenty-first century, Kuper addresses significant events that have impacted the city and its inhabitants. The narrative touches on the globalisation and gentrification that have transformed the urban landscape, as well as the profound effects of terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and social movements. This memoir is not just a personal account; it reflects the collective struggles and triumphs of Parisians who have faced a series of shocks in recent years.
With the upcoming Olympics and the ambitious 'Grand Paris' project on the horizon, Impossible City captures the essence of a city in transition. Kuper's candid observations and engaging storytelling provide a unique perspective on contemporary Paris, making this memoir an essential read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of modern urban life.
Highly readable and amusing ... Kuper is a charming guide * New Statesman *
Next time you travel to the former City of Light, take this book * Independent *
An absorbing, affectionate, acutely observed, cliché-free study of contemporary Paris * Irish Times *
A persuasive defence of the very idea of a city... a reminder of the countless ways in which urban life remains one of the few efficient vaccines against bigotry and toxic nationalism * Washington Post *
A portrait of Parisian society ... the style is elegant and flinty, the humour dry -- Andrew Martin * Literary Review *
One of the best books about Paris... deftly debunks the alarmist narratives [to] reveal a city of tolerance and nuance * Foreign Affairs *
Kuper has the journalist's touch of rendering clichés less clichéd and giving the personal a hint of universalism * Times Literary Supplement *
[A] revealing memoir ... Kuper is a clear-eyed observer of all the history that is happening all around him * Observer *
Informative and enlightening with a sarcastic touch... puts us on the streets themselves and lets us mingle * Los Angeles Review of Books *
With a dry wit and a journalist's eye, Kuper unravels the layered past and looks to the future * Kirkus Review *
A lively read that captures many of the capital's contradictions * Economist *
With the perspective of a foreigner, and two decades as a Paris resident behind him, Kuper chronicles the paradoxical complexities of Parisian life in his memoir -- 'Best summer books of 2024' * Financial Times *
Simon Kuper does a great job in conveying why Paris is a city that is impossible to embrace and impossible to resist ... very funny * Irish Examiner *
A must-read for admirers of the City of Light -- Mark Brocklesby * Jersey Evening Post *
Praise for Chums: 'A searing onslaught on the smirking Oxford insinuation that politics is all just a game. It isn't. It matters -- Matthew Parris
A gripping read ... exquisite and depressing in equal measure -- Matthew Syed * Sunday Times *
A sparkling firework of a book -- Lynn Barber * Spectator *
Incisive, insightful and timely -- Richard Beard * New Statesman *
Fascinating ... The picture Kuper draws is of a nation with a decadent and deeply unprofessional ruling class, a diagnosis with which it is impossible to disagree -- Hugo Rifkind * The Times *
ISBN: 9781800816503
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
272 pages
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