I have been a history geek for as long as I can remember. My father used to read me ancient mythology from all around the world to sleep every night. Eleven-year-old me had a history crush on Louis XIV. His stories never failed to fascinate me — from secret mistresses to corridors full of conspiracies and gossip, to eternally famous palaces.

Later, in middle- and high school, I learned so much about the rest of the world, being lucky enough to study world history whilst living in Japan and Singapore. My history teacher in Japan would take us to the places about which tales were told. I remember walking in the steps of the 47 Rōnin in Tokyo — previously Edo — towards what had been the Kira residence, now a shrine commemorating his assassination. I loved reliving the history, tracing the steps, whispering the rumours and stories which we will never know whether they are true or not.

I am French, but I grew up all over Asia, Europe, and North America. I double-majored in History and Political Science and ended up working at UNESCO for two years. I love discovering religions, cultures, languages, architecture, books, and coming across remnants of the past.

In this blog, I use various sources — many French ones never before translated — to make history come alive in English for you. I will also recommend cafés, bookshops, boutiques, and hidden gardens. I want people to fall in love with Paris.