Historian Jeremy Black traces the story of France’s vibrant capital from its founding in the first century BCE to its role today as the seat of a global power—and the host of the upcoming 2024 Olympic Games in his new book PARIS, A Short History, published by Thames & Hudson.

This concise and erudite portrait of Paris contains wonderful old maps and inserts that are most useful and informative. From art to architecture, cuisine to culture, Black draws on an array of sources delves into all, from BCE through medieval times, to the Belle Epoque to the World Wars to today and the forthcoming Olympics.

This book is a beautiful tribute to a beautiful city, one that has impacted and changed the world over the centuries.

He takes readers on a captivating journey, chronicling monumental events and unforgettable personalities, as Paris grew into a flourishing medieval city, later became home to the opulent courts of Louis XIV and Louis XV, and was forever changed by the French Revolution. Black highlights how the Belle Époque transformed the city’s architecture and the impact of the 20^th century’s two World Wars.