Haussmann, or the Distinction

Starred review from August 27, 2001
When one thinks of Paris, the images that come to mind are of grandeur, grace and sophistication: sweeping, tree-lined boulevards, the Champs-Elysées and the Opera House. But Paris was once as cramped and dingy as the rest of medieval Europe, and the man credited with cleaning it up (or ruining its charm, as some still see it) is Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann, who served as prefect of the Seine from 1853 to 1869. LaFarge (The Artist of the Missing) pays homage to this mystifying personage in his tremendous novel, which is every bit as grand, gracious and sophisticated as Paris itself. As LaFarge tells it, the story of Haussmann goes well beyond the man as city planner—he is also embroiled in a love affair and political scandal. We meet Madeleine, a wistful orphan who escapes a convent and is rescued by M. de Fonce, a "demolition man" whose prominence comes from tearing the city apart and selling its treasures as collectibles. De Fonce's home is a frequent evening entertainment spot for Haussmann, and a romance soon develops between Madeleine and the baron. A predictably clandestine affair ensues, and once Madeleine is pregnant, Haussmann shuns her. But Madeleine is a woman with connections, and she is determined to seek revenge—via Haussmann's demise. LaFarge, posing as translator (he even includes a "Note to the English Edition"), neatly integrates geographical and cultural references into the tale, making this as much an enlightening history of Paris as it is a tragic, affecting love story. An astonishing amount of research, a believable tone and a captivating story all come together to make this work a stunning success. Agent, Gloria Loomis.