However, I have one gripe that prevents me from giving it 4 or 5 stars. A left-wing political bias runs right through the book. Perhaps the writers imagine that all independent travelers are lefties....sorry mates, that's just not true! All the political history given in the book comes with a lefty spin. E.g, the atrocities committed by the Communards are glossed over, while those committed against them are played up. Likewise, the role of the Left in the wartime resistance is highlighted, but not the shameful collaboration of the French Communists with the Germans between the fall of France and the attack on the Soviet Union.

'Vive' the Rough Guide! 'A bas' the political bias!!


Best guide for getting beyond cliches   May 4, 1999
 31 out of 37 found this review helpful

This guide reaches lots of places the others don't - like the 14th & 20th arrondissements, free of mega monuments but fascinating in their own ways. It also covers all the regular sites with wit and pith, and has rich context section with history, language, and further reading. The maps and restaurant tips are also excellent, and the listings include places like pool halls and Turkish baths that no one else covers. A real find.