Paris at the End of the World: The City of Light During the Great War, 1914-1918 (P.S.)

A preeminent writer on Paris, John Baxter brilliantly brings to life one of the most dramatic and fascinating periods in the citys history. From 1914 through 1918 the terrifying sounds of World War I could be heard from inside the French capital. For four years, Paris lived under constant threat of destruction. And yet in its darkest hour, the City of Light blazed more brightly than ever. Its taxis shuttled troops to the front; its great railway stations received reinforcements from across the world; the grandest museums and cathedrals housed the wounded, and the Eiffel Tower hummed at all hours relaying messages to and from the front. At night, Parisians lived with urgency and without inhibition. Artists like Pablo Picasso achieved new creative heights. And the war brought a wave of foreigners to the city for the first time, including Ernest Hemingway and Baxters own grandfather, Archie, whose diaries he used to reconstruct a soldiers-eye view of the war years. A revelatory achievement, Paris at the End of the World shows how this extraordinary period was essential in forging the spirit of the city beloved today. A Preeminent Writer On Paris, John Baxter Brilliantly Brings To Life One Of The Most Dramatic And Fascinating Periods In The City's History. During World War I, The Terrifying Sounds Of The Nearby Front Could Be Heard From Inside The French Capital; Germany's Paris Gun And Enemy Aviators Routinely Bombarded The City. And Yet In Its Darkest Hour, The City Of Light Blazed More Brightly Than Ever. Its Taxis Shuttled Troops To The Front; Its Great Railway Stations Received Reinforcements From Across The World; Its Grand Museums And Cathedrals Housed The Wounded; And The Eiffel Tower Hummed At All Hours, Relaying Messages To And From The Trenches. At Night, Parisians Lived With Urgency And Without Inhibition, Embracing The Lush And The Libertine. The Rich Hosted Parties That Depleted Their Wine Cellars Of The Finest Vintages. Artists Such As Pablo Picasso Achieved New Creative Heights. And The War Brought A Wave Of Foreigners To The City For The First Time, Including Ernest Hemingway And Baxter's Own Grandfather, Archie, Whose Diaries He Uses To Reconstruct A Soldier's-eye View Of The War Years. Two Men In Silk Pajamas -- An Ice Cream War -- Poetry And Pity -- Jean -- Chocolate Soldiers -- Taxi! -- The Taste Of Transitoriness -- Has Anybody Seen Archie? -- The Photograph -- Strangers In Paradise -- Meeting At Plane Corner -- Master Of War -- Why A War? -- Archie Agonistes -- The Call To Arms -- They Knew -- But We Think You Ought To Go -- The War To End Wars Inc. -- G'day, Digger! -- Die Fraulein -- The Scholar -- On The Secret Shelf -- Archie Under Arms -- Dressed To Kill -- Misery Hill -- Bedside Manner -- The Way To Kiss A Mary -- The Cure For Cockroach -- Blighty -- Dancing Between The Flames -- I Love A Parade! -- Every Night Something Awful -- The Sammies -- Things That Go Bump In The Night -- The Beds In The West -- Machines -- The Zouave's Trousers -- The Stars And Stripes Forever -- The City Of Darkness. John Baxter. Includes Index. "A preeminent writer on Paris, John Baxter brilliantly brings to life one of the most dramatic and fascinating periods in the city's history. During World War I, the terrifying sounds of the nearby front could be heard from inside the French capital; Germany's "Paris Gun" and enemy aviators routinely bombarded the city. And yet in its darkest hour, the City of Light blazed more brightly than ever. Its taxis shuttled troops to the front; its great railway stations received reinforcements from across the world; its grand museums and cathedrals housed the wounded; and the Eiffel Tower hummed at all hours, relaying messages to and from the trenches. At night, Parisians lived with urgency and without inhibition, embracing the lush and the libertine. The rich hosted parties that depleted their wine cellars of the finest vintages. Artists such as Pablo Picasso achieved new creative heights. And the war brought a wave of foreigners to the city for the first time, including Ernest Hemingway and Baxter's own grandfather, Archie, whose diaries he uses to reconstruct a soldier's-eye view of the war years."--Page [4] of cover