Paris in 1871 was a shambles following military defeat, siege, and a bloody uprising, and the question loomed, could this extraordinary city even survive? By 1900, the Belle Epoque was in full flower, but the decades between were marked by tension and conflict, as the new challenged the old in everything from politics to art, literature, music, science, and engineering. With the addition of an evocative new preface, Mary McAuliffe takes the reader back to these perilous years following the abrupt collapse of the Second Empire and France"s uncertain venture into the Third Republic—examining this era through the eyes of Monet, Zola, Debussy, Eiffel, Marie Curie, and others as they struggled with the forces of tradition. Through rich illustrations and vivid narrative, McAuliffe brings this vibrant and seminal era to life.