Family bonds and the substance of love are examined against the dreamy beauty of mid-nineteenth century Paris in the latest from Joaquim (Sophia, A Woman’s Search for Troy). In 1853, French citizen Charles Fabron is mourning the death of his wife and twin sons when he is offered a position as an architect in The Paris Project–a years-long initiative to physically and culturally transform old Paris into the “sanitized, soul-stirring urban masterpiece” nicknamed the “City by the Seine.” Fabron reluctantly signs on under the project’s mastermind, Prefect Baron Georges-Eugene Haussmann, but soon discovers that rebuilding a centuries-old city is not what he anticipated, in the process uncovering his own family secrets and finding love in the most unexpected places. Despite his initial vision for a modernized and elegant renovation of Paris, Fabron ends up walking a tightrope between Haussmann’s almost-impossible demands and being forced to demolish “thousands of centuries-old houses” to clear enough land for the massive undertaking. His unhappiness is partially alleviated when 11-year-old Daniel Lazare, an orphan boy with dreams of going to Paris, is assigned as his new runner. Fabron becomes surprisingly fond of Lazare, until an ugly incident disrupts their growing relationship and sends Lazare into hiding. That disaster, combined with the destruction of the Franco-Prussian War, puts a halt to Fabron’s rebuilding plans–and ultimately results in an exposé of family betrayal alongside a revelation of lost love.
Joaquim’s writing simmers with the glamour and magic of old Paris, from the glittering nightlife to mouth-watering descriptions of regional dishes. History lovers will relish the French icon backstories—such as the Arc de Triomphe’s rise to fame and the redesign of the Bois de Boulogne—while they are captivated by Joaquim’s exploration into Napoleon Bonaparte and Louis Napoleon’s dreams for a “more accessible Paris.” In the end, Fabron’s narrative takes a backseat to the legendary city’s charisma, but readers will be spellbound by its breathtaking transformation.
Takeaway: A sweeping retelling of Paris’ luminous transformation, intertwined with family secrets and lost love.
Great for fans of: Alistair Horne’s Seven Ages of Paris, Edward Rutherfurd’s Paris: The Novel.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
