Le livre commode des adresses de Paris pour 1692, tome 1/2

A compact yet richly detailed directory opens a window onto Paris in 1692, presenting the city’s streets, squares and the homes of its most distinguished inhabitants. Compiled by a diligent 17th‑century scholar and enriched with scholarly notes, the guide blends practical address listings with fresh commentary, letting listeners picture the bustling façades and hidden courtyards that once defined the capital.

The introduction stretches beyond a mere catalogue, tracing the lineage of city guides from ancient Athens and Rome to the “nomenclatores” who memorised every notable name and address. It explains how these early “tourist cicerones” helped travelers navigate not only geography but also the social networks of patrons and clients. Listeners will be drawn into the fascinating mix of cartographic precision, historical anecdotes and the subtle politics of hospitality that shaped everyday life in a Paris that was both familiar and foreign.