Après-Midi Recap

Edith de Belleville

La Vie Parisienne: Paris through art, literature and history, Edith delighted us with her tales of her career, first as a lawyer, and then as a tour guide and author…born French, but working with the American community. She told the story of French café life from the very beginning till now and kept us laughing. We all agree…she should have been a stand-up comic! Just reading her books…in French or in English, there’s no doubt about her natural sense of humor.

For more than 20 years, Edith worked as a lawyer but wanted to study her passion: Paris and its incredible history. She decided to be a lawyer during the week and a guide on the weekend. But she wanted to become a real guide, a professional, licensed guide like the ones you would find at Le Louvre or Le Château de Versailles.

At 50 years of age, Edith returned to a university with the goal of receiving her “Licence de Guide Conférencière.” This was not easy! But it was worth all the hard work because she studied the history of art, of France, and of Paris as well as the history of French literature.

As a Parisienne, Edith had always been interested in the stories of other Parisiennes from the past, such as Christine de Pisan, Madame de Montespan, Josephine de Beauharnais, George Sand, and Sarah Bernhardt. With the help of her Parisian editor, she was able to publish her book and share her passion for these extraordinary, inspiring women to whom she dedicated her book Belles et Rebelles.

Edith’s new book, written in English, is Parisian Life: Adventures in the City of Light. It’s about the life of a Parisian woman who is a tour guide in Paris who likes art, literature and history. Both books are MUST READS!

Be sure to watch the video of the entire session by clicking here.