James Gardner

“…retells and retraces the evolution of one of the world’s most complex architectural palimpsests with elegance, economy, and wit.”

“Gardner’s muscular, impatiently expert prose recalls Robert Hughes in his city books, ‘Barcelona’ and ‘Rome.'”

“This history is told with all the great verve, insight and eye for detail that Mr. Gardner’s criticism is noted for.”

“Think of reading this book as the full experience you are temporarily denied today, or may never have had the energy to undertake…”

“An eye-opener …Anyone curious about how the Louvre evolved into its present configuration will find this diligent book richly informative.”

“There’s not really an equivalent anywhere else in the world … It’s an icon like the Eiffel Tower that defines the city. The Louvre is Paris.”

“Recommended for readers interested in the history of France, the history of architecture, and museology.”

“Fast-paced and evocative, this is a must for Francophones as well as art and architecture lovers.”

“His remarkable achievement is to show us how the building is every bit as spectacular and as fascinating as the treasures it holds.”

“…a vivid chronicle of strife, wars, rivalries, and aspirations [and] …A richly detailed journey through a palimpsest of the past.”