What is Paris Noir about?
Akashic Books continues its groundbreaking series of original noir anthologies, launched in 2004 with Brooklyn Noir. Each story is set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the city of the book.
Brand-new stories by: Didier Daeninckx, Jean-Bernard Pouy, Marc Villard, Chantal Pelletier, Patrick Pécherot, DOA, Hervé Prudon, Dominique Mainard, Salim Bachi, Jérôme Leroy, Laurent Martin, and Christophe Mercier.
From the introduction by Aurélien Masson:
“Paris is a city that lives, and thus dies, every day. No point hiding behind history or war memories. What is a threat to Paris, to its noir dimension even, is potential “museumification,” the possibility of the city turning into a big theme park. In Paris, after all, everything is still there. All you have to do is look around with eyes wide open . . .
Beyond the lights, beyond the cafés and bars, Paris is sometimes like a grave. It’s a city you run away from, or at least dream of running away from. But on every street corner, the past jumps at your throat like a grimacing hyena . . .
You don’t inhabit your city, you dream it. All I can do now is invite you to enter the dream.“
Table of Contents
Introduction
Part I: City of Lights, City of Darkness
“The Chauffeur” by Marc Villard (Les Halles)
“The Chinese Guy” by Chantal Pelletier (Ménilmontant)
“Big Brother” by Salim Bachi (Quartier Latin)
“Berthet’s Leaving” by Jérôme Leroy (Gare du Nord)
Part II: Liberation Lost
“Like a Tragedy” by Laurent Martin (Place de la Nation)
“Christmas” by Christophe Mercier (Pigalle)
“The Revenge of the Waiters” by Jean-Bernard Pouy (Le Marais)
“La Vie en Rose” by Dominique Mainard (Belleville)
Part III: Society of the Spectacle
“Rue des Degrés” by Didier Daeninckx (Porte Saint-Denis)
“Dead Memory” by Patrick Pécherot (Les Batignolles)
“бесценный (Precious)” by DOA (Bastille)
“No Comprendo The Stranger” by Hervé Prudon (Rue de la Santé)