Nights in the Big City: Paris, Berlin, London 1840-1930 - Second Edition (Topographics)

This elegantly written book describes the evolving perception and experience of the night in three great European cities: Paris, Berlin, and London. As Joachim Schlör shows, the lighting up of the European city by gas and electricity in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries brought about a new relationship with the night for both those who toiled at work and those who caroused in restaurants, pubs, and cafes. Nights in the Big City explores this change and offers a stirring portrait of the secrets and mysteries a city can hold when the sun goes down. Sifting through countless police and church archives alongside first-hand accounts, Schlör sets out on his own explorations with a head full of histories, exploring the boulevards and side-streets of these three great capitals. Illustrated with haunting and evocative photographs by, among others, Bill Brandt and André Kertész, and filled with contemporary literary references, Nights in the Big City is a milestone in the cultural history of the city. This Book Describes The Evolving Perception And Experience Of The Night In Three Great European Cities: Paris, Berlin, And London. As Joachim Schlör Shows, The Lighting Up Of The European City By Gas And Electricity In The Nineteenth And Early Twentieth Centuries Brought About A New Relationship With The Night For Both Those Who Toiled At Work And Those Who Caroused In Restaurants, Pubs, And Cafes. Nights In The Big City Explores This Change And Offers A Stirring Portrait Of The Secrets And Mysteries A City Can Hold When The Sun Goes Down. Sifting Through Countless Police And Church Archives Alongside First-hand Accounts, Schlör Sets Out On His Own Explorations With A Head Full Of Histories, Exploring The Boulevards And Side-streets Of These Three Great Capitals. Illustrated With Haunting And Evocative Photographs By, Among Others, Bill Brandt And André Kertész, And Filled With Contemporary Literary References, Nights In The Big City Is A Milestone In The Cultural History Of The City. Joachin Schlör ; Translated By Pierre Gottfried Imhof And Dafydd Rees Roberts ; With A Foreword By Matthew Beaumont. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 329-385) And Index. Translated From The German. This elegantly written book describes the changes in the perception and experience of the night in three great European cities: Paris, Berlin and London. The lighting up of the European city by gas and electricity in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries brought about a new relationship with the night, in respect of both work and pleasure. Nights in the Big City explores this new awareness of the city in all its ramifications. Joachim Schlör has spent his days sifting through countless police and church archives and first-hand accounts, and his nights exploring the highways and byways of these three great capitals. Illustrated with haunting and evocative photographs by Bill Brandt and André Kertész, among others, and filled with contemporary literary references, Nights in the Big City has been acclaimed as a milestone in the cultural history of the city Cover -- Nights in the Big City: Paris, Berlin, London, 1840-1930 -- Imprint Page -- Contents -- Foreword Matthew Beaumont -- 1. Contradictory Reports from Night in the Big City -- 2. A Beginning: Big City Nights around 1840 -- Digression: In a New Light -- 3. Night and Security -- 4. Night and Morality -- 5. Night-walking -- 6. An End: Big City Nights around 1930 -- References -- Bibliography -- Photo Acknowledgements -- Index Contents 8 Foreword • Matthew Beaumont 10 1 Contradictory Reports from Night in the Big City 14 2 A Beginning: Big City Nights around 1840 41 Digression: In a New Light 68 3 Night and Security 83 4 Night and Morality 187 5 Night-walking 269 6 An End: Big City Nights around 1930 311 References 330 Bibliography 364 Photo Acknowledgements 388 Index 390