Jon Lewis’ charming book “How We Didn’t Buy a House in Besancon” tells the tale of challenges encountered when buying property in France. Required reading for anyone contemplating retiring here. Finally succeeding at finding his dream home, he and his wife Josée now live in the South of France, eight hours drive from Rome and quite a long way, as it turned out, from Besançon. Following is an excerpt from his book where he provides practical information for buying a house in France: Continue reading “How We Didn’t Buy a House in Besançon”
“She Dances on Jackson” is the title of Vanessa Winship’s new exhibition of black and white photographs at the Fondation Henri Cartier Bresson in Paris (until July 28). Winship won the 2011 Henri Cartier Bresson Award with 30,000 euros allowing her to travel across the United States, from California to Virginia, New Mexico to Montana to photograph the fabled ‘American dream.’ The exhibition of photos resulting from this trip present a lyrical conversation between landscape and portraits of the people that inhabit it. 
Paris is the most popular tourist destination in the world with 28.9 million tourists a year. Sometimes, especially in the summer months, it seems that they are all trying to go to the same place you are. A new book “Quiet Paris” by Siobhan Wall is a guide to over one hundred wonderful off the beaten path places for savoring the quiet delights of this most seductive of cities. 
People into photo know many of the names of photographers associated with Paris such as Doisneau, Lisette Model or Dora Maar, but Laure Albin Guillot’s name usually draws a blank. Now a retrospective exhibition at the Jeu de Paume revisiting the work of this unsung photography heroine is a step in the direction of reestablishing Guillot’s (1879-1962) place in the history of French photography 
“Paris Mythique” is a new photo book published by Parigramme featuring one hundred iconic black and white photos ranging from Doisneau’s “le baiser de l’hotel de ville” to Henri Cartier-Bresson’s picture of French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre on the Pont des Arts footbridge to Raymond Cauchetier’s photograph of Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo on the set of Godard’s legendary 1960 movie “Breathless.” They’re all here as well as some little known gems such as a rare 1923 photo showing Sylvia Beach and Ernest Hemingway posing in front of the original Shakespeare and Company Bookshop when it was located on rue de l’Odeon. 
Alison Harris’ new photo book “Paris in Love” —ideal gift for Valentines Day— continues where Doisneau’s famous “Baiser de l’hotel de ville” left off. This charming book of color photographs published by Parigramme, depicting Paris’ romantic Seine, secret gardens, cafe terraces and park bench lovers, would make a perfect “petit cadeau” (only costs 9.90E) for anybody who loves this city. And like Audrey Hepburn said in the film “Sabrina,” “Paris is always a good idea.” For those who might have to wait a little while before getting a flight here, the book “Paris in Love” could be the next best thing.
Step into a postcard of Paris with this excellent guide to the City of Light. Illustrated by more than 300 color photographs, “No Worries Paris, a photographic walking guide” by Jerry and Janine Sprout takes readers on a visually luscious journey to the city’s striking monuments, as well as into the cobblestone crannies of its villages and along the glamorous fashion boulevards. 
Politeness, friendliness, and formality at its most French —The French revel in their complications despite the frequent inconvenience of getting tangled in them. For one thing, it confirms their cherished impression that they are unique on earth, a blest condition known locally as the French Exception. For another, it makes everybody else jump through Gallic hoops to do things their way. Even Charles de Gaulle, who occasionally admitted to despising his compatriots as unworthy of his idea of France, asked in a moment of exasperation, “How can you govern a country with over 300 kinds of cheese?”