NOTRE DAME

The great cathedral’s history as seen through the lens of its near destruction by fire in April 2019.

Poirier is commended for not setting out to write a history of Notre-Dame itself. Rather, she seeks to contextualize the history of Paris and of France through the story of the great edifice, a task she executes masterfully. The narrative is necessarily bookended by both the conflagration, which nearly destroyed the cathedral, and by the controversial plans for restoring Notre-Dame to a lasting landmark. The author begins with a detailed, emotional account of the day of the fire, describing heroic efforts to control it as well as the public shock and dismay over the unfolding tragedy. She carries the story through to the point at which the fire was under control, with President Emmanuel Macron promising that it would be rebuilt. From here, Poirier takes readers back to the origins of Notre-Dame in the 12th century, examining what is known about its design, construction, and financing while also describing life in Paris at the time. The author also examines other eras in French history—e.g., the Bourbon kings, the Revolution, the era of Napoleon—showing how the cathedral has acted as a solid background, a site of calm and reverence even in the most chaotic moments of France’s national story. Poirier then moves on to modern reformers and restorers, especially Eugène Viollet-le-Duc (1814-1879), “a rebel against the academies [who] also belonged to those lovers of old stones who tirelessly campaigned to restore and treat medieval monuments with dignity.” In conclusion, the author considers the plans to rebuild Notre-Dame, noting the controversies over design and funding, all set against the backdrop of a race against time. The timing of the book—before the restoration—is also noteworthy, as Poirier captures a poignant moment in history: Paris without her Lady.

An evocative, emotionally satisfying look at one of the world’s great architectural treasures.