Olympia: Paris in the Age of Manet by Otto Friedrich 1992

First edition. In a delightfully different account of art and politics during the Second Empire, Friedrich sketches a landscape encompassing Napoleon III, Flaubert, Wagner, Proust, Degas, Zola, Monet, Hugo, Manet, and many others, both famous and infamous. Photographs. 

Otto Friedrich's account of Paris ("the capital of the 19th century") during the Second Empire brilliantly evokes an era and vividly depicts its people and events. The central character is Manet with an awe-inspiring supporting cast of Napoleon III, Empress Eugénie, Wagner, Flaubert, Bismarck, Offenbach, Proust, Degas, Haussmann, Zola, Monet, and Victor Hugo. Though Manet never paints Empress Eugénie, the most powerful woman in France, he does paint the execution of Maximilian in Mexico (which is only one of the ill-fated schemes urged on Napoleon III by the Empress). And he paints Berthe Morisot--eleven times, with whom he is clearly in love--but she marries his brother. 

Baron Haussmann tears up and rebuilds most of central Paris. Manet paints a portrait of Nana as a mindless showgirl. Zola, at almost the same time, writes Nana as a portrait of a woman as a devourer. Bismarck provokes and Empress Eugénie prods Napoleon into war. Napoleon loses his entire army and surrenders at Sedan. The Third Republic is proclaimed in Paris. Manet and Degas serve in the defending army. Victor Hugo publishes a cookbook on how to cook rats. Under siege, Paris surrendered. The French government attacks and massacres the Communards. The Impressionists paint and quarrel among themselves. 

Title: Olympia: Paris in the Age of Manet 
Author: Otto Friedrich 
Publisher: Harper Collins 
Publication Date: 1992 
Edition: First Edition 
Illustrations: 22 illustrations 
Binding: Hardcover 
Language: English 
Pages: 329 
ISBN 0-06-016318-6 
Measures approximately: 9 1/2 x 6 1/4 inches (23 x 16 cm.) 
Condition of the book: Please see the images. 
Interests: 1. Art-Political aspects-France-Paris. 2 Art, French-France-Paris. 3. Art. Moderm 19th century-France-Paris. 4. Art and state-France-Paris. 5. Manet, Edouard, 1832-1853-Criticism and interpretation. 6. France-Politics and government-1852 

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