«An entirely enjoyable journey beneath Paris» - THE OLDIE
«Clearly and pleasantly... Martin is the most humble and welcoming of guides; the book is entertaining» - LITERARY REVIEW
«An eclectic mix of engineering and travelogue, urban design, and anecdotes... an honest love letter» - THE ECONOMIST
Andrew Martin has been described as the “railway laureate” since he has written many books on railway themes. However, he has always been obsessed with the Paris Metro, which is why his work "Metropolitain: An Ode to the Paris Metro" is the first English history of the Metro for the general reader.
"Metropolitain" is as elegant as the Metro and filled with cultural references. Andrew explains why "Last Tango in Paris" is a great Metro movie and what the Metro chase scene in the classic film "Le Samourai" reveals about Parisian culture. He describes how he came to appreciate the beauty of Guimard’s curving green Metro entrances when he bought a white lily and watched it bloom in his office. We meet Andrew's friend Julian, who runs a society dedicated to Metro history, and he tells him: “A Metro station is like the wine cellar of a château, which is very nice to remember.”
The book takes the reader on a continuous tour of Paris, both underground and above ground. However, Paris and the Metro are changing, undergoing significant expansion. This situation and the forthcoming Paris Olympic Games make this title timely.
Pages: 256, Year of Publication: 1031, Dimensions: 13.6x13.6cm
