Paris, From the Earliest Period to the Present Day; Volume 2

In this sweeping narrative the listener is taken back to the very foundations of Paris, when the city’s streets first echoed with the footsteps of royal officials and bustling craftsmen. The author weaves together the rise of the Parlement of Paris, the early duties of the prévôt, and the tangled web of medieval law, all illustrated with lively anecdotes and contemporary engravings. By following the evolution of municipal power, the story reveals how a humble watchman could become the linchpin of justice in a growing capital.

Beyond institutions, the book paints vivid portraits of the people who shaped the capital: the stern yet fair Étienne Boileau, the clever merchants of the water trade, and the countless guilds that regulated daily life. Their conflicts and collaborations show how order and disorder danced on the same cobblestones, offering a colorful glimpse into the social fabric of early Paris. Listeners will find a richly detailed tableau that brings the medieval city to life, inviting imagination to wander the arches and alleys of a bygone era.