A version of this review previously appeared in Shelf Awareness and is republished here with permission.

Elaine Sciolino was seduced by the Seine at age 28. Sent to Paris in 1978 as a foreign correspondent for Newsweek, she arrived with no friends or contacts. She was alone and ill-prepared, yet found two sources of sustenance: an elderly tutor and the river Seine.

The Seine flows through almost 500 miles of France, bubbling to the surface at Source-Seine and carrying the country's ancient history through Burgundy and cities such as Paris and Rouen (symbolized by Joan of Arc) before emptying into the English Channel and onto the beaches of Normandy. Its path is lined with such famous sights as Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. "The most romantic river in the world" has inspired artists of every medium to create countless popular works. The Seine also floods regularly, almost as if it cannot hold so much rich history within its banks and surges as a reminder of its power over France. In The Seine, Sciolino details the enthralling life and times of the river.

Sciolino, Paris bureau chief for the New York Times and one of the only American members of Femmes Forum, a private club of the leading women of France, writes about the Seine passionately yet with a reporter's eye. She brings the waterway to vivid life through surrounding sights and sounds (church bells and multilingual commentaries), yet facts are paramount. In ways big and small--the history of commerce, contamination and cleanups, lighting, origination of the daguerreotype, the officers of the River Brigade and the fascinating role of the "Unknown Woman"--she makes the stories of The Seine undeniably captivating.

STREET SENSE: Elaine Sciolino turns her reporter's eye on the force of nature that is the river Seine, bringing it to life. Fun for historians, Francophiles, and the world-curious.

COVER NERD SAYS: This cover didn't do much for me. The font feels too casual for the subject matter, though I did appreciate the use of the French flag palette. The photo sneaks some well known structures in, but really fails to highlight the river itself. I have to think there were more iconic photos of the Seine, but perhaps there's a story behind this one I don't know. It simply didn't lure me to the cover, regardless.

This took me a long time to read because it gets pretty dense in the middle. The beginning is super interesting because we learn about Sequana, the pagan river goddess the Seine is named after and an archeological site at Bercy in Paris where hundreds of artifacts were found. Sciolino starts at the source of the Seine and follows it to the sea, stopping along the way in notable towns and cities. It really is a great story of the Seine and my only complaint is that perhaps it is too long in some parts. Reading this had me adding more cities to my to-visit list of France and I'd say it's a great read for any Francophile.

This book needs to be on the bookshelf of every Francophile! Sciolino's previous book, The Only Street in Paris, is one of my all-time favorites when I want to read a book to transport me straight to Paris. This one is no different. You get more history in this one, but Sciolino's love of the city still shines through.

**I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Sciolino writes a love letter to the river Seine. Part travelogue, part history, and with a dash of memoir, Sciolino brings to life the Seine in all of its facets. From its beginning to its end, she travels and visits with historians and locals who explain the importance of the Seine to French society and to French history. Most of her book focuses on the Seine’s impact with Paris and the multitude of experiences one can have on the Seine in Paris. Sciolino writes in a journalistic style – she is a trained journalist – so passages have a journalistic flare.

I was captivated by this book. I’ve yet to visit France, let alone the Seine, but just reading Sciolino’s words made me feel a part of the journey. She captures the spirit of the river, with its good points and its bad points. She conveys a sense of urgency in conservation of the river and its resources, as well as the importance of knowing its history. So much was lost during World War II; yet, in areas that received bombing and devastation, there is hope and a remembrance of the past. She makes everything sound so picturesque – truly a love letter, full of enchantment and longing.

This is a perfect book for anyone who enjoys French culture, French history, or even someone who likes to read about nature. Highly recommended.

An interesting meditation on the geographical Seine, the meaning it has had in history, and what it means in Paris - visually, symbolically, and in daily life - today. A beautiful way of strolling along the banks of the Seine in memory and in anticipation.