PARIS IN RUINS Love, War, and the Birth of Impressionism

Julian Elfer narrates this in-depth exploration of life in Paris from the summer of 1870 to the spring of 1871. As Napoleon's monarchy fell, Parisians starved and struggled to survive the bloody street battles of the Paris Commune. Elfer is riveting as he delivers art critic Smee's well-researched account of this chaotic period. Artists Manet, Morisot, and Degas remained in Paris, experiencing the worst of the turmoil, while Renoir, Monet, and Pissarro left France for safety. Smee suggests that the artists' awareness of life's tenuousness caused their paintings to take on a new, idealized style. While the audiobook focuses more on war's devastation than on its impact on the Impressionists, Elfer's intelligent narration makes it must-listening for historians and art lovers alike. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2024]