In this wonderfully readable book, Alistair Horne tells the huge and romantic story of Paris through seven ages of turmoil and change: the Middle Ages, the 100 years war, the Paris of Louis XIV, the age of Napoleon, the Commune, the Empire days of Louis-Napoleon and Eugenie, and the First World War and De Gaulle. Interweaving historical narrative with telling detail, this is a fluent and definitive work of social and cultural history.

'The best book I have read on Paris in a long time' Gregor Dallas, BBC History Books of the Year

'Reading Seven Ages of Paris is like taking an exciting trip in a French balloon' Antonia Fraser, New Statesman Books of the Year

'Provides not only a panorama of the capital, but also a well-crafted history of France with a nice balance between broad overviews and engaging episodes and details' Jonathan Fenby, The Times

Alistair Horne is the author of many acclaimed books, including The Price of Glory, Small Earthquake in Chile and How Far From Austerlitz?, as well as the authorised two-volume biography of Harold Macmillan. In the June 2003 Birthday Honours List he received a knighthood for services to Franco-British relations.