Forget a single plot. This book is a crowd. Les Français peints par eux-mêmes (The French Painted by Themselves) is a famous 19th-century publication, and this second volume is a continuation of its mission: to document, in almost encyclopedic fashion, the social types of the era. Through a series of short, illustrated chapters, each one focuses on a different character from Parisian and provincial life.

The Story

There's no main character. Instead, you meet a parade of them. You'll get a chapter on the ‘Journalist’, buzzing from café to printing house, followed by one on the ‘Provincial Lady’ with her very different set of worries. There's the shrewd ‘Shopkeeper’, the melancholic ‘Bachelor’, the ever-complaining ‘Renter’. Each sketch combines a detailed, often funny illustration with a written piece that describes their habits, their clothes, their ambitions, and their flaws. It's not a story with a beginning and end, but a panoramic snapshot of a society in all its bustling, contradictory glory.

Why You Should Read It

The magic is in the specifics. This isn't a historian telling you "the middle class grew." It's showing you the exact pattern on a clerk's waistcoat and the precise way he tries to hide a hole in his glove. The writing has a wink to it—these are observations made by people who live in this world, poking fun at it with affection. You get the gossip, the stereotypes, the unspoken rules. Reading it, you realize how much of human nature—our vanity, our struggles to keep up appearances, our little daily dramas—is timeless, even if the costumes and customs have changed.

Final Verdict

Perfect for history lovers who want to move beyond dates and battles into the messy, lively reality of the past. It's also a treasure for writers, artists, or anyone who loves people-watching. Think of it as the most detailed, beautifully drawn sourcebook for a historical novel ever made. It's a slow, browsing kind of book—dip in for a character or two at a time. If you're looking for a fast-paced plot, look elsewhere. But if you want to wander the streets of 1840s France and eavesdrop on its inhabitants, this is your ticket.