Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Paris from the Nazis, this is a social and cultural history of post-war Paris. Against an atmosphere charged with powerful emotional and intellectual changes, every aspect of Parisian life is portrayed - from the streets and the cafes to fashion houses and painters' salons. The authors interviewed many key witnesses from the period and had access to archival material from Washington, Moscow, London and Paris itself. Hemingway, Sartre, de Beauvoir, Dior, Picasso and de Gaulle are among the many characters which the authors attempt to bring to life.