In the spring of 1978, as a foreign correspondent in Paris, Elaine Sciolino was seduced by a river. In The Seine, she builds the story of the river through memoir, travelogue and history, writing a love letter to the city she has called home since 2002. Sciolino begins in Paris, then moves east to discover the river's origins-both real and mythical-in Burgundy. She celebrates the river's rich history and captures the charm of its lively characters: a bargewoman who worked on the river for decades, a bookseller along the riverbanks, a houseboat dweller and a famous cameraman who knows how to capture the river's light. She patrols the Seine with river police, rows with a restorer of antique boats, discovers a champagne vineyard, and even dares to drink from and swim in the river. In this rich portrait, Sciolino explains why the Seine is the world's most romantic river and invites readers to explore its secrets and magic for themselves.

About the Author
Elaine Sciolino is a contributing writer and former Paris bureau chief for the New York Times. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller The Only Street in Paris. She has lived in Paris since 2002.

Reviews
"I learned so much from this book. Elaine Sciolino is a graceful, companionable writer, someone who speaks about France in the most enjoyably American way... [She] proceeds from colorful detail to revealing detail, gently informing even as she entertains... Sciolino has laid one more beautiful and amusing wreath on the altar of the City of Light." -- Edmund White - The New York Times



Book Information
ISBN 9780393609356
Author Elaine Sciolino
Format Hardback
Page Count 304
Imprint WW Norton & Co
Publisher WW Norton & Co
Weight(grams) 652g
Dimensions(mm) 236mm * 160mm * 30mm