
THE PARISIANS
By Edward Bulwer-Lytton
PREFATORY NOTE. (BY THE AUTHOR’S SON.)
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
THE PARISIANS.
BOOK I.
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
Set against the bustling streets and grand salons of Imperial and Democratic France, this novel paints a sweeping portrait of Parisian society at a moment when “modern ideas” are reshaping every corner of life. Through a lively cast of merchants, politicians, artists, and ordinary citizens, the story captures the clash between traditional respectability and the new currents of thought that threaten to upend long‑standing conventions.
The author treats the city itself as a character, observing how ambition, love, and rivalry play out against a backdrop of political intrigue and social reform. With a blend of humor, keen satire, and genuine empathy, the narrative invites listeners to consider how ideas ripple through a community, influencing fortunes and fates alike. Though the plot follows several intertwined lives, the true focus remains the collective spirit of a Paris that is at once vibrant, conflicted, and unmistakably human.
Language
en
Duration
~25 hours (1442K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Widger
Release date
Nov 27, 2004
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1803–1873
A bestselling Victorian novelist and politician, he mixed society satire, historical fiction, and supernatural intrigue in books that captivated 19th-century readers. He is still widely remembered for coining famous lines including “the pen is mightier than the sword” and the much-parodied opening “It was a dark and stormy night.”
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