The Marais: The Story of a Quartier

The Marais is a historically diverse area of Paris, from a fashionable center to a working-class Jewish ghetto, and now a renowned gay quarter. This cultural history will explore representations of the area through literature, cinema, autobiography, photography, and graphic novels.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 01 April 2023
Publisher: Liverpool University Press

The Marais, a captivating and diverse area in Paris, has a rich cultural history that spans from prosperity to decline and back again. From the Middle Ages to the reign of Louis XIV, it served as the vibrant heart of fashionable Paris, hosting the courts and enjoying a prosperous era. However, when the courts relocated to Versailles in the 17th century, the Marais began to experience a decline in its fortunes. Over time, it transitioned into a working-class neighborhood predominantly inhabited by Jewish people, often referred to as a "ghetto." By the early 20th century, the Marais had fallen into a state of disrepair, prompting intervention from the Paris City Council and the restoration plan initiated by André Malraux in the 1960s. While it has recently emerged as the most renowned gay quarter in the capital, this identity has not always been embraced smoothly or universally accepted. This cultural history will be explored through a variety of representations, including literature, cinema, autobiographies, photographs, and graphic novels, emphasizing the significance of visual narratives alongside the historical unfolding.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781802078091