Why We Write About Paris

What is it about Paris that makes it such a glorious setting for a book? From novels to memoir to cookbooks, Paris has been the setting for countless literary creations over the years. In every genre and style, the City of Light has made an appearance. I’ve contributed to that, writing novel Paris, Rue des Martyrs and Paris-themed short stories in the anthology That’s Paris. As a Paris dweller, it’s natural that I would set some of my writings in the place I know so well. But it goes beyond that. Before Paris, I’d lived in several other cities and towns and never had I felt so inspired.

Some might say the reason for Paris’ prominence in writing has to do with the city’s beauty or history, but there are many beautiful, historical cities throughout the world that don’t have such a strong relationship with literature. Others might say it has to do with the Lost Generation, writers who came of age during World War I and lived the expat writer life in Europe, primarily in Paris. Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway and many others certainly crafted a Paris through words that would eventually lure future generations of writers to Paris.

But I think there is another major element that keeps Paris central to writers’ thoughts, dreams and plots these days. It comes down to a lifestyle of freedom to exist, to live our daily lives without judgement. Setting a book in Paris isn’t simply placing a character in front of the Eiffel Tower. Instead, it is developing a character within all that the setting represents. So here is my list of the Paris lifestyle elements, all part of that sense of freedom, that have inspired the writer to make this city the setting for many memorable books:

Café Life and Leisure Time: In Paris, there is always time to observe. Sitting down at a café with a cup of coffee and nothing to do but watch the world go by. The Parisian, on his or her day off, is not bound by time or the pressure to accomplish something in particular. Sitting around talking, observing or scribbling in a notepad is not viewed as a waste of valuable hours. As a writer, this is the ideal place and environment for a character to begin her journey. It is the perfect starting point. “The protagonist, sitting at a café table and gazing at the passers-by, sees someone who looks familiar” or “The protagonist, curled up in a booth at the back of a café, overhears something that she shouldn’t have.” So many things can happen when one is allowed to sit around daydreaming.

Romance: Most Paris books have an element of romance and for good reason. Paris is a romantic city, not only because of its beauty, but because of the role of romance and flirtation in the French culture. Flirtation often starts in a subtle and intellectual way, with two strangers chatting about the book Stranger No. 1 is reading or what Stranger No. 2 is writing in a notebook. “Usually” French flirtation doesn’t involve cheap pick-up lines or silliness. There is also a sense of freedom not often seen elsewhere, meaning, if a couple is kissing in the middle of the sidewalk, that couple will draw stares and comments in many other cities and countries. Yet, in Paris, people won’t even notice. The amorous couple can create their own world right in Paris.

Food and Wine: Paris is all about delicious food. From buttery croissants to crispy baguettes to fluffy soufflés. Not many Parisians count calories or equate food with guilt. Food and wine equal pleasure in the City of Light. So writers searching to create books with culinary themes, from cookbooks to novels, often find themselves with a Paris, or even French, setting. For those of us from other countries where views of food are different, this French attitude is yet another freedom—to eat what we choose without guilt.

Reputation: Thanks to the above elements, and likely many others, Paris has developed the reputation of being a place where you can be yourself, live as you’d like—either in the spotlight or in the shadows. Celebrities walk the streets of Paris but never get mobbed as they do elsewhere. They, too, have the right to create their own world right in Paris.

As writers, we are fascinated by such a place, where you can be yourself, answer to no one and enjoy what most consider the pleasures of life. This atmosphere begs for the creation of all kinds of characters and plots. Of course, as someone who lives in Paris, the picture is far from 100 percent rosy. Like any other city or town, Paris has its problems. Like other cities, Paris can’t escape from the reality of bad weather, crime, pollution and other ugly issues. But in spite of it all, the culture of Paris remains unchanged, providing the perfect place for our characters and plots to flourish.

—

Adria J. Cimino is the author of Amazon Best-Selling novel Paris, Rue des Martyrs and Close to Destiny, as well as The Creepshow and A Perfumer’s Secret. She also co-founded boutique publishing house Velvet Morning Press and Women’s Fiction ebook deals newsletter BookStar. Prior to jumping into the publishing world full time, she spent more than a decade as a journalist at news organizations including The AP and Bloomberg News. She lives in Paris with her husband, Didier, and daughter, Phèdre. When she isn’t writing, you can find Adria at her neighborhood café watching the world go by.

Links:

Website: http://www.adriajcimino.com/

Twitter: @Adria_in_Paris

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdriaJ.inParis/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Adria-J.-Cimino/e/B00IBW3X5I

BookStar: http://bookstardaily.com/

Tags: featured, Paris, women wirters

Category: Contemporary Women Writers, On Writing