Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on
bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
London, A Literary Anthology
by British Library
Ranging from the 15th century to the present day, the British Library’s generous selection of poems and novel excerpts evokes the spirit of London through the ages. Full-color works of art from the library's collection are interspersed throughout.
Three Men in a Boat and Three Men on the Bummel
by Jerome Jerome, Jeremy Lewis (Introduction)
Written in 1889, "Three Men in a Boat" (to say nothing of the dog!) is a laugh-out-loud account of a man-powered voyage along the River Thames, full of detail on life and lore. A Longitude favorite.
Paris Map
by Borch Maps
A sturdy laminated map of the city center at a scale of 1:12,000 and all of Paris at a scale of 1:15,000.
London's Royal Parks
by Paul Rabbitts
A history of the evolution of nine London parks from their days as private hunting land to monarchy acquisition to current status as a manicured public space. Divided into chapters by park, including Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Windsor Great Park and St. James’s Park.
Paris in Mind
by Jennifer Lee (Editor)
With selections spanning 300 years, this wonderful anthology reflects America's long connection to Paris and the French. The 30 American writers tapped include Benjamin Franklin, Ernest Hemingway and David Sedaris.
Londoners
by Craig Taylor
Drawing on the unforgettable stories of nearly 100 Londoners, Taylor provides a rich and vivid kaleidoscopic view of modern-day London through the diverse voices of those who, regardless of whether they love or hate it, capture the heart and soul of one of the world's greatest cities.
In Montmartre: Picasso, Matisse and the Birth of Modernist Art
by Sue Roe
Beginning with the teenaged Pablo Picasso’s arrival in Montmartre in 1900, this multi-faceted biography takes on the extraordinary men and women, including Henri Matisse and Gertrude Stein, who transformed the European art world.
Mastering the Art of French Eating
by Ann Mah
New to Paris and with her diplomatic husband called away, Ann Mah (not unlike Julia Child once upon a time) explores France through ten of its iconic regional dishes, from Brittany (crepes) to Provence (soupe au pistou) and Languedoc (cassoulet). Recipes included!
Paris to the Past, Traveling Through French History by Train
by Ina Caro
The infectiously enthusiastic Ina Caro charts 25 day trips from Paris in this marvelously conceived history and guide. From the splendor of Chartres, wonders of Sainte-Chapelle and elegant Place de la Concorde, Caro enchants.
Hungry For Paris
by Alexander Lobrano
An American in Paris since 1986, European correspondent for Gourmet and editor of Zagat's Paris, Lobrano brings a journalist's savvy and a food lover's insight to this enchanting guide of over 100 places to eat, enlivened by color photographs and charming essays on French food and dining.
Watching the English
by Kate Fox
Fox's clever guide to the conversation, behavior, quirks, habits and foibles of the English is wildly popular back home in Britain. Second edition.
A Tale of Two Cities
by Charles Dickens
Dickens' famous tale of love and intrigue, set against the backdrop of the French Revolution.
A Traveller's History of London
by Richard Tames
The story of London, from the Romans to Tony Blair, tailored to the traveler.
The Road from the Past, Traveling through History in France
by Ina Caro
Time travel through France by way of its finest castles, chateaux, cathedrals and monasteries. This unusual travelogue is an invaluable companion for traveling in Paris, southern France, the Dordogne and the Loire Valley, combining personal observation with large doses of well-presented history.
London Map
by Berndtson & Berndtson
A colorful and detailed laminated city map with a variety of useful inset maps.
Tales of Two Cities, Paris, London, and the Birth of the Modern City
by Jonathan Conlin
This dual history of Paris and London explores how the two modern metropolises grew alongside each other in design, politics, law and culture.
Eyewitness Guide Paris
by Eyewitness Guides
Gorgeous, well-illustrated and filled with maps, this compact book provides an excellent overview of the French capital, its history, traditions and sights.
Eyewitness Guide London
by Eyewitness Guides
This superb guide to London features color photography, dozens of excellent neighborhood maps and a district-by-district synopsis of the city's attractions. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry.
A Moveable Feast
by Ernest Hemingway
A treasure for anyone interested in Parisian cafe society and its luminaries circa 1925. Hemingway includes sharp portraits of Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ford Maddox Ford and others who idled on their way to greatness.
Paris to the Moon
by Adam Gopnik
Gopnik writes with candor and humor about Paris and Parisian ways in these charming reflections on adapting to life in glorious exile.
