Diane Johnson's book Inside a Paris Quartier: Reine Margot's Chapel and Other Haunts of St. Germain, is a part of National Geographic's travelogue and memoirs series. This series has various different authors writing about their favorite cities. In this case, Johnson has lived in this part of Paris for many years, and other ex-patriate Americans have too, so she is giving us a tour of her neighborhood.
She tells us that the real Three Musketeers lived here, as well as Gertrude Stein. She gives us the details and the stories of the various nearby buildings (and the people who lived there) from the 1500's to the 2000's. Paris is a old city that is continually changing. The history of this part of town has layers and layers, and this is just one quartier!
This a great introduction to the history of Paris. Johnson makes it sound fabulous and romantic and she convinces you that you must learn more - even if it is just enough to keep the Louie's straight. A must for the francophile.
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