Paris Audiobook By Edward Rutherfurd cover art

Paris

The Novel

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Paris

By: Edward Rutherfurd
Narrated by: Jean Gilpin
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About this listen

From the grand master of the historical novel comes a dazzling, epic portrait of the City of Light.

Internationally best-selling author Edward Rutherfurd has enchanted millions of readers with his sweeping, multigenerational dramas that illuminate the great achievements and travails throughout history. In this breathtaking saga of love, war, art, and intrigue, Rutherfurd has set his sights on the most magnificent city in the world: Paris.

Moving back and forth in time across centuries, the story unfolds through intimate and vivid tales of self-discovery, divided loyalties, passion, and long-kept secrets of characters both fictional and real, all set against the backdrop of the glorious city - from the building of Notre Dame to the dangerous machinations of Cardinal Richlieu; from the glittering court of Versailles to the violence of the French Revolution and the Paris Commune; from the hedonism of the Belle Époque, the heyday of the impressionists, to the tragedy of the First World War; from the 1920s when the writers of the Lost Generation could be found drinking at Les Deux Magots to the Nazi occupation, the heroic efforts of the French Resistance, and the 1968 student revolt.

With his unrivaled blend of impeccable research and narrative verve, Rutherfurd weaves an extraordinary narrative tapestry that captures all the glory of Paris. More richly detailed, more thrilling, and more romantic then anything Rutherfurd has written before, Paris: The Novel wonderfully illuminates hundreds of years in the City of Light and Love and brings the sights, scents, and tastes of Paris to sumptuous life.

©2013 Edward Rutherfurd (P)2013 Random House Audio
Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Sagas France City Tearjerking War

What listeners say about Paris

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Sweeping Historical Scope Captivating Family Sagas Engaging Narration Interwoven Generational Stories
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Great writing and recording

Very inspiring story with so many moving parts that it takes an effort to keep track of all events and families. Paris is definitely a city to love. The fictitious families feel so real and relevant it’s hard to imagine the story is fictional.
Highly recommend to this loving history fiction

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Great read before your trip to France!

Any additional comments?

A wonderful overview of the history of Paris! It is a challenge to keep track of the characters and the sequence of timing as the book jumps back and forth. It can be done and you are rewarded with a good understanding of Paris. I enjoyed this book and it made my Paris visit more meaningful. The narrator is a delight.

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Good Story

I very much liked this story. As with other reviews, the moving between periods does not work as well in a audible book format. It would probably work better when reading. I struggled with the performance initially, because it took time to get used to a female perform male voices. HOWEVER, over time I really enjoyed the performance and now reflect very positively on her narration. If you struggle, as I did, at the beginning with the performance my recommendation is to carry on and will become an endearing narrative voice.

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Very good

I enjoyed this book very much, including the historical information. It is well worth listening to and enjoying all the stores

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Disappointing

I could not finish this book. It is too long and jumps from character to character. Boring

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Outstanding!

Loved it. I love visiting Paris for many years. I now feel that I know so much more about its history now that I have read this book. I look forward to my next visit.

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Loved it!

History and story all together! Learned so much from it!!!! Highly recommended for all Francophiles like me

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Historical events

Unfortunately, some of the characters (aristocratic ones) were not very interesting. The story interwove the different characters pretty well.

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so-so

Not for me. The story is a little slow-moving. I couldn't get into it.

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My favorite author at his best!

**Note: I’ve just finished this book for the second time. My goodness, this is absolutely gorgeous. Rutherfurd’s Masterpiece! Each story is weaved together so seamlessly and perfectly that nothing feels forced or formulaic. The performance by Jean Gilpin is exquisite. Together, the writing and narration make this one of those rare and perfect audiobooks. A story made better by listening. I was so sad to get to the end of the book this second time. I can’t fathom what I will listen to next that can remotely compare.**

First Review: I couldn’t disagree more with other reviewers who complain that the story travels in time back and forth, this making this book confusing. The structure and time line of this novel help make it so incredibly brilliant and unforgettable! The style is a slight change for Rutherfurd and I love it! I wasn’t ever confused as to the time period, as each chapter begins with the year it takes place. His stories of the ancient and recent past all hold threads of importance in the later time period. The later story is the true focus of this book. It starts in the 1800’s and continues until 1940’s German-occupied France. The stories that are earlier than 1800’s are all connected to the cast of characters/families that we follow from the building of the Eiffel Tower to the time of General De Gaulle.

It is a different style than Rutherfurd’s other chronological books, but to tell the story of a city like Paris, I think it was very effective.

I hated for this book to end. The narrator was excellent, except for her flat American accent. It’s not used often enough to matter that much.

I am sad, though, as this is the last of Rutherfurd’s books I have to read. I’ve now listened to all his work available on audible. (Except for the abridged Forest.) It can’t imagine anything that will compare to this amazing book.

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3 people found this helpful