"Courageous and erudite . . . James Gardner is bold to take in, and take on, what few mortals have the chance or the stamina to do . . . Open the book and enjoy the visit."--Washington Post

"Mysterious in effect, the Louvre is delightfully mysterious in history, too, as James Gardner shows in The Louvre . . . Gardner relates the long story of the Louvre, starting around the thirteenth century, when it was simply a castle, through its elevation as a palace, and then, in the seventeenth century, its expansion into service as an office building for French royalty . . . Gardner's muscular, impatiently expert prose recalls Robert Hughes in his city books."--Adam Gopnik, New Yorker

"I hadn't realized just how mythically resonant a museum could be until I read James Gardner's eloquent encomium to the Louvre . . . This history is told with all the great verve, insight, and eye for detail that Mr. Gardner's criticism is noted for . . . [His] passion also invites us to share his affection--and to plan a visit."--Wall Street Journal

"An eye-opener . . . Gardner makes every phase and transformation vivid . . . Anyone curious about how the Louvre into its present configuration will find this diligent book richly informative."--Boston Globe

"[An] extensive exploration of the Parisian cultural institution."--Smithsonian Magazine

"Chronicles the Parisian icon's 800-year evolution from workaday fortress to beloved art institution."--New York Post

"Magisterial . . . The whole book is enlivened by his stories of the people involved, and by the lyricism with which he describes certain rooms . . . The book does what all good books of this kind should do: it makes me want to go back to the Louvre and see some of the things he writes about and that I never noticed before."--Midwest Book Review

"Engrossing . . . In elegant prose, Gardner describes how over the next 200 years [after 1793] the Louvre endured constant evolution and construction as its reputation as a leading repository for art treasures grew and it became the world's most famous museum. Fast-paced and evocative, this is a must for Francophones as well as art and architecture lovers."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"The evolution of the Louvre reflects the political, intellectual, and aesthetic history of France . . . The author offers a vivid chronicle of strife, wars, rivalries, and aspirations culminating in the present grand architectural complex . . . A richly detailed journey through a palimpsest of the past."--Kirkus Reviews

"Comprehensive . . . Recommended for readers interested in the history of France, the history of architecture, and museology."--Library Journal

"James Gardner makes the walls talk. He traces the many metamorphoses of the Louvre, revealing how from its humble origins as a fortress it has come to occupy the heart of Paris and the center of French--and indeed world--culture. His remarkable achievement is to show us how the building is every bit as spectacular and as fascinating as the treasures it holds."--Ross King, bestselling author of Brunelleschi's Dome and Mad Enchantment

"With its fast-moving and rich narrative, this truly excellent book needed to be written: the fascinating and turbulent story of the Louvre as a royal palace has been largely eclipsed by its much shorter and more famous life as a museum. Here both parts of its long history have been splendidly recounted."--Philippe de Montebello, Director Emeritus, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Praise for Buenos Aires

"Excellent . . . A treasure for those who have visited the city or plan to soon."―New Criterion

"You come away from Buenos Aires with a strong desire to visit Buenos Aires―or if you already have, to return and see all the things that escaped your notice."―Weekly Standard

"Gardner has written a love story for the second largest city in South America, and his account should be required reading for city planners, architecture students, or those who are interested in how a city goes from humble beginnings to the 'Paris of the South.'"―Library Journal

"A genial historical tour conducted by an affectionate docent with a keen eye."―Kirkus Reviews