Paris Between Empires, 1814–1852
Paris Between Empires, 1814–1852 is a history book by Philip Mansel about Paris from the end of the Napoleonic era to the start of the Second Empire. It was first published in 2001 by John Murray in London and later in 2003 by St. Martin’s Press in New York. The book uses a thematic structure rather than a strict timeline, with chapters built around big ideas rather than a continuous narrative.
The opening chapter, Death of an Empire, covers the Napoleonic Wars and Paris’s military life, written in a lively, almost novel-like style. Some reviewers say the book feels more thematic than an in-depth urban history of Paris. The final chapter, Birth of an Empire: Versailles, 18 January 1851, gives a quick account of the early days of the Second Empire and some readers find it too short and a bit too tidy as a contrast to the first chapter.
The interior is in black and white, while the cover is in color, and there are over 80 pages of notes. Critics praised the book for its readability, knowledge, and ability to recreate places and the life of the city’s rich. Some wished for color illustrations and more coverage of architectural changes in Paris. Overall, Paris Between Empires is described as enlightening, entertaining, and well written.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 11:35 (CET).