Samaritaine: Paris Pont-Neuf | Assouline

The story of Samaritaine is a grand love story: the love of family, the love of commerce, the love of art, the love for others. Samaritaine is a name that conjures dreams, and, for many Parisians, brings back a flood of memories, such as climbing the grand staircase with one’s grandmother, or just gazing awestruck at the sight of its majestic building in the heart of Paris. From Art Nouveau to Zola, the story of the Samaritaine department store unfolds here in the form of a playful ABC to commemorate its renovation and renaissance in the twenty-first century. This architectural gem once again offers an authentically French shopping experience, blending the chic of avenue Montaigne with the trendy vibe of the Marais. French art de vivre is elevated here, beyond simply a retail space, offering new experiences, an array of restaurants, conferences and exhibitions, a spa and even a five-star hotel. Illustrated with striking photographs, Samaritaine Paris Pont-Neuf juxtaposes French artisanal savoir faire and fashion with elements of Parisian history and anecdotes of the store’s founders, illuminating the evolution of this iconic department store in the heart of the City of Light. As rich and glamorous as the Samaritaine facade on the Parisian skyline, this volume celebrates the revival of this jewel box of French style and spirit. Born in Bordeaux, Harold Cobert, Ph.D. is a French writer specializing in erotic literature of the eighteenth century and the French Revolution. His work has been translated into dozens of languages and adapted for film and television. He has published fifteen books, encompassing novels, essays and young adult fiction. His latest novel, Belle-Amie (Éditions Les Escales, 2019; Éditions Pocket, 2020), could perhaps be considered a sequel to Maupassant’s masterpiece, Bel-Ami.