Mary McAuliffe is a historian whose work delves into the intricate tapestry of French history and culture. She possesses a deep understanding of pivotal eras, meticulously examining the complex societal and political shifts that define them. McAuliffe's writing is characterized by its vivid engagement with the atmosphere and spirit of bygone times, drawing readers into the past with compelling narrative. Her books offer captivating insights into the lives and cultures of specific periods, often exploring the rise and fall of civilizations and their elites.
This book traces the profound transformation of the City of Light during Napoleon III's Second Empire, as he and Georges Haussmann completely rebuilt Paris in less than two decades. Their breathtaking-and brutal-achievement was mirrored by dramatic social, cultural, and political changes, all brought to life through McAuliffe's evocative narrative.
Examines the period of French history from 1871 to the onset of World War I, which was marked by advances in politics, the arts, music, science, and technology, through the eyes of the innovators who fought the forces of tradition.
Describes the visionary works and discoveries of the intellectuals and artists who lived in Paris at the beginning of the twentieth century, against a background of struggles between the Church and state, widespread poverty, and the approaching Great War.
Paris on the Brink vividly portrays the City of Light during the tumultuous 1930s. The decade was marked by violence at home and the rise of Hitler abroad, even as glamour prevailed in fashion and Surrealism sparked new forms of artistic creativity. Through rich illustrations and evocative narrative, Mary McAuliffe brings this vibrant era to life.
When Paris Sizzled vividly portrays the City of Light during the fabulous 1920s, when art and architecture, music, literature, fashion, entertainment, transportation, and behavior all took dramatically new forms. Through rich illustrations and evocative narrative, Mary McAuliffe brings this vibrant era to life.
Conflict between England and France was a fact of life for centuries, but few realize that this conflict originated with the Vikings and their settlement of what would become Normandy. In this compelling and entertaining history, Mary McAuliffe takes the reader back to those dark and turbulent times when Viking descendant William the Conqueror became king of England, yet as duke of Normandy remained an unwilling subject to the French crown. This led to ongoing hostility between his descendants and generations of French monarchs, culminating in the clash between young Philip Augustus of France and his royal English rivals, most notably Richard Lionheart. Mary McAuliffe colorfully provides the background and context for this "clash of crowns," whose outcome would shape the course of English and French history throughout the centuries that followed.
A multilayered exploration of Paris--its people and stories. This book weaves a narrative that takes the readers into secret and hidden places, even in the midst of the most well-known Paris destinations. Drawing upon her many years of research and travel, McAuliffe searches out beauty and historic meaning within a busy, modern-day city and a turbulent world.