The author acquaints readers with the sixth arrondissement by recounting her strolls through this iconic neighborhood.

Into a Paris Quartier: Reine Margot's Chapel and Other Haunts of St.

The American humorist recounts life as a Paris correspondent during the 1940s and 1950s.

I'll Always Have Paris (Art Buchwald, 1996).

DeJean describes how Paris emerged from the Dark Ages to become the world's grandest city.

How Paris Became Paris: The Invention of the Modern City (Joan DeJean, 2014).

Foodies may enjoy this book, about a small-town restaurant where foie gras is always on the menu.

From Here, You Can't See Paris: Seasons of a French Village and Its Restaurant (Michael S.

This best seller, along with its follow-up, Savoir-Flair!, is an essential aid for interacting with the French and navigating the intricacies of their culture. Reading this book is like wandering the streets of Paris with the author, who lived here for 16 years. Demystify French culture - and the French people - with this good introduction.

Culture Shock! France (Sally Adamson Taylor, 1991).

Goubert provides a basic summary of French history.

The Course of French History (Pierre Goubert, 1988).

After buying a flat in the Marais, the author digs into the history of the building - and the evolution of one of Paris' great neighborhoods.

A Corner in the Marais (Alex Karmel, 1998).

The political, social, and cultural history of France is explored in detail, accompanied by coffee-table-book pictures and illustrations.

The Cambridge Illustrated History of France (Colin Jones, 1995).

Using stories from American expatriates, Glass transports readers back to Nazi-occupied Paris in the early 1940s.

Americans in Paris: Life and Death under Nazi Occupation (Charles Glass, 2009).

Turnbull takes an amusing look at adopting a famously frosty city.

Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris (Sarah Turnbull, 2003).

This is the most complete (and priciest) menu reader around - and it's beloved by foodies. A to Z of French Food, a French to English Dictionary of Culinary Terms (G.(And see our similar lists for elsewhere in Europe.)

To learn more about Paris past and present, check out a few of these books and films. By Rick Steves, Steve Smith, and Gene Openshaw

Tyler stovall paris noir