Paris has for centuries seemed calmly indifferent to that globalized, ravenous, giddy form of cannibalism called “urban development.” In fact, even if you know all of the city’s 6,500 streets perfectly, Paris will always remain the capital of roaming around.

An ode to the City of Light, Paris by Paris is a true journey through the twentieth century through the lens of history, but also the arts, fashion, culture, and style. Over seven chapters, readers discover the glorious days of the Belle-Epoque, the Roaring Twenties, and the revived intellectual and artistic creativity of the post-war era. They stroll along the grands boulevards, where the beauty of the city’s monuments burst with history and stories to tell, and learn the city in a way known only to the savviest insiders.

Photos Courtesy of Assouline