Americans in Paris: A Literary Anthology: A Library of America Special Publication Hardcover – 30 Mar. 2004

Excellent book - a wonderful collection of writings by Americans who've flocked to Paris to write. Pure joy. I loved reading this especially those written in the 1920s, 1930s & 1940s. Dedicated to Florence Gould (1895-1983).

600 pages of well chosen and balanced essays on historical, cultural, artistic, gastronomic and romantic Paris – a lavish banquet of splendid writing, from Benjamin Franklin to Art Buchwald and James Baldwin. Here are the best – famous and lesser known – American authors and journalists, with a wonderful subject in common: Paris. A splendid collection, edited and introduced by an iconic writer of today, Adam Gopnik.Gopnik, is a staff writer, at The New Yorker, and has been contributing to the magazine since 1986. His work is wide-ranging and includes fiction, humour, book reviews, profiles, and reportage from countries other than the U.S.A. . His books include collections of essays, volumes on food, and children’s novels. A winner of many literary awards Gopnik lectures widely.

An anthology of pieces written by Americans who have visited or live in Paris, starting with Benjamin Franklin, moving through Henry James and Edith Wharton, on through Hemingway, Gertrude Stein and Scott Fitzgerald and into the post war years (or at least piece published since the second world war) with AJ Leibling and Jack Kerouac among others. It's all loving curated by Adam Gopnik.This sounds excellent, but in the event I was a little disappointed. The essence of this is that I don't think there's really a subject here - even a loose and baggy subject - at least there may be if you are already intimately acquainted with Paris or with the American artistic and cultural scenes there. But for me, a series of pieces with not that much in common.There were many pieces I enjoyed, though - in many cases for their style. Benjamin Franklin I'd never read before but I feel I must read again. Henry James' story The Velvet Glove I didn't know and was very happy to read. The pieces about Lindbergh crossing the Atlantic (to Paris as it happened) were fascinating. I enjoyed the Hemingway and Stein. The postcard from Hart Crane is fun and the stories of excess from Harry Crosby's diaries memorable. In modern times, the piece by Diana Vreeland gives a memorable picture of Coco Chanel, and James Baldwin in prison in France is something that will lead me to read more of his writing too.

Gopnik's literary anthology of Americans in Paris is a lovely volume, full of charm, wit, anecdote, and yes, melancholy for all those who have visited, or lived in, the City of Lights. Part of the Library of America, a continuing book trust fund dedicated to keeping American literature perpetually in print, (and doing so in ultra high quality hardbound volumes), this entry is nothing short of a fabulous look into the many Americans who passed through "La Ville-Lumière" at some point in their lives."Americans in Paris" captivates anyone who has spent time in the city. Paris is remarkable in the emotion it evokes in people, and when we read the words both small and great of writers both small and great, we are drawn back in our own minds to the similar thoughts Paris evoked in us, but never took time to record in print. Some of the writings in this book are funny, some intriguing, some explanatory - but we never miss out on the fact that Paris was the constant in all of them. We live vicariously through these writings, and yet, use them to relive our own experiences in the city. It truly is the next best thing to being there. Read it for enjoyment, introspection, and also to look forward to your next trip to Paris.The book runs about 600 pages, and can be read in any order, by date, by person, or by topic. Entries are placed chronologically, starting with Benjamin Franklin and Abigail Adams in the late 18th century all the way to Vreeling and Tanning in the 20th century. Authors include Charles Lindbergh, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson, P. T. Barnum, Irwin Shaw, Henry James, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ernest Hemmingway, Art Buchwald, Ralph Waldo Emerson, James Baldwin, and a host of others too lengthy to list here.

If you love Paris you’ll love this

Paris and American history all in one book. Love everything Gopnik writes!

Americans in Paris is a really interesting book To be completely honest I would not purchase this book on my own it was assigned as part of a college course I am taking and I am glad it was assigned. It is a collection of Americans impressions of Paris. The aspect I like is that most of the essays are fairly short and easy reads. I would recommend this book for the American that longs to be in Paris either for the first time or the 100th time.

Wonderful stories of more or less famous Americans and their experiences in Paris by a great writer who knows France and Paris very well.