Five Nights in Paris - by John Baxter (Paperback)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

The preeminent expat writer on Paris and author of The Most Beautiful Walk in the World takes you on an unforgettable nocturnal stroll through five iconic Parisian neighborhoods, a captivating travel memoir woven from his own memories.

John Baxter enchanted readers with his literary tour of Paris in The Most Beautiful Walk in the World. Now, this expat who has lived in the City of Light for more than twenty years introduces you to the city's streets after dark, revealing the hidden treasures and rich French culture that come alive at night.

As he takes you through five of the city's greatest neighborhoods--Montmartre, Montparnasse, the Marais, and more--Baxter shares pithy anecdotes about his life in France, as well as the fascinating Parisian history he has gleaned from leading literary tours of the city by dark. With Baxter as your guide, you will discover the City of Light as never before, walking in the ghostly footsteps of Marcel Proust, the quintessential night owl for whom memory was more vivid than reality; Hungarian photographer Gyula Halász, known as Brassai, who prowled the midnight streets, camera in hand, with his friend Henry Miller; Louis Aragon and Philippe Soupault, who shared the Surrealists' taste for the city's shadowed, secret world; and Josephine Baker and other African-American performers who dazzled adventurous Parisians at late-night jazz clubs.

A feast for the mind and the senses, this unique Paris travel guide, Five Nights in Paris, takes you through the haunts of Paris's most storied artists and writers to the scenes of its most infamous crimes in a lively off-the-beaten-path tour not found in any other guidebook.

This one-of-a-kind exploration of Paris after dark is structured around the five senses:

• A Literary Tour After Dark: Walk in the ghostly footsteps of Marcel Proust, Henry Miller, and the Surrealists, discovering the haunts and habits of the city's most storied artists.
• The City of Light, Reimagined: Venture through Montmartre, the Marais, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés at night, when the city reveals a secret character not found in any guidebook.
• An Expat's Intimate View: Join author John Baxter as he blends unforgettable personal anecdotes from his decades in France with his deep knowledge of Parisian culture.
• A Feast for the Senses: Experience the sounds of late-night jazz clubs, the scents of a city in bloom, the tastes of hidden bistros, and more in a journey that engages every sense.

From the Back Cover

An irresistible nighttime tour of Paris, past and present, by the bestselling author of The Most Beautiful Walk in the World

Every guidebook to Paris is crammed with sites to see during the day, but visitors are often cast adrift once the sun sets and the Louvre, Notre Dame, and other tourist attractions shut their doors. Sadly for those who have retreated into their hotel rooms, it's only when darkness falls that the City of Light shines brightest. Full of as many unexpected detours and delightful digressions as the city itself, award-winning author John Baxter's Five Nights in Paris is the ultimate off-the-beaten-path guide to exploring the French capital after hours.

Baxter leads readers on five evening tours across Paris's great neighborhoods. Each night's itinerary is selected for its connection to one of the five senses: the first, "Sound," explores the great jazz clubs of Saint-Germain-des-Prés; "Taste" samples the eclectic restaurants and bakeries of the Marais; "Touch" brings alive the city's legendary cabaret scene, including Montmartre's nearby Moulin Rouge; "Smell" describes Parisians' love of perfume and takes us to the infamous former opium fumeries along the Bois de Boulogne; and "Sight" traces the favorite haunts of the Surrealist artists, beginning in Montparnasse.

Review Quotes

"A mouthwatering, erudite journey through France's foodie heritage, some of which might be lost forever without the likes of Baxter recalling and showcasing them for today's diner." - France Today (praise for The Perfect Meal

"We are the beneficiaries of John Baxter's considerable, vivid love for the expatriate life in Paris." - Los Angeles Times (praise for The Most Beautiful Walk in the World)

"The next best thing to a Paris vacation." - Boston Globe (praise for John Baxter)

A MAIN SELECTION OF THE QUALITY PAPERBACK BOOK CLUB - *

"Charming. ... An entertaining meditation with plenty of digressions and detours into nocturnal Paris that should appeal to France lovers everywhere. ... A sharp-eyed, unsentimental look at the City of Light, its dark corners and midnight blues." - Chicago Tribune

"This is armchair travel at its very best. Baxter, whose knowledge of Paris's recent cultural history is vast, is a worthy guide. Fascinating stories and anecdotes. ... Readers will emerge from the experience of this book feeling like well-traveled experts." - Library Journal (starred review)

"An entertaining mix of amusing autobiography and fluent expertise. ... Baxter makes after-dark visits to the sites of once fashionable brothels and jazz clubs, follows the scent of perfume, and sumptuously indulges his passion for food, writing, at each turn, with wit and rapture." - Booklist