Measure of Paris by Stephen Scobie (published by the University of Alberta Press) is a travelogue, memoir, literary criticism and poetic look at Paris.
Quote: From the UofA site:
Paris remains one of the most fascinating cities in the world. It provides a measure of excellence in many areas of culture, and it is itself constantly being measured, both by its lovers and by its critics. This book presents a series of studies on the images of Paris presented by writers (mostly Canadian, from John Glassco to Mavis Gallant to Lola Lemire Tostevin), but also in such other areas as social history and personal memoir. The result is a wide-ranging discussion of the city’s history in 20th century literature and thought, which will appeal to all those who love Paris, or who have ever walked on its streets.
Scobie is the ultimate flaneur and his philosophical meanderings through Paris takes readers to sites of art, architecture and transit. His history of the city planning, and the itineraries of Canadian writers in Paris, makes for interesting reading and a different look at a city that is larger than life.
His personal musings were my favourite, along with the insights into Haussman’s influence and transformation of Paris through the large-scale construction of the streets and boulevards that make the Paris we know today.