Metropolitain
'An eclectic blend of engineering and travelogue, urban planning and anecdote... a sincere love letter' The Economist Metropolitain is as stylish as the Metro itself and laced with cultural references. Andrew Martin explains why Last Tango in Paris is a great Metro film, and what the Metro chase scene in the classic thriller, Le Samouraï, says about Parisian culture. He describes how he came to appreciate the beauty of Guimard's sinuous green Metro entrances when he bought a lily of the valley and observed it flowering on his desk. We meet Andrew's half-English, half-French friend, Julian, who runs a society dedicated to Metro history. He tells Andrew, 'A Metro station is like the wine cellar of château, which is a very nice thing to be reminded of.' In Metropolitain, Andrew takes the reader on a tour of Paris, both underground and over, offering a unique look at the city and its Metro as both undergo significant change. 'Delightful and diverting... Martin is the most unpretentious and companionable of guides' Literary Review
is a prolific author of fiction and non-fiction books. His non-fiction has sometimes had a railway theme, and his novels include the award-winning 'Jim Stringer' series, set on the railways of early 20th Century Britain. The most recent Stringer novel is Powder Smoke. His most recent non-railway novels are Soot, The Martian Girl and The Winker. His most recent non-fiction book is Yorkshire: There and Back. He also writes and records songs under the name Brunswick Green. Martin's website is jimstringernovels.comjimstringernovels.com.
A unique look at Paris through the history of the Métro from award-winning author, Andrew Martin.