Alysa Salzberg's blog

One of the things that fascinates me the most about the 1870-1871 Siege of Paris is what still remains of it. Not really anything large-scale, despite the fact that so many historical events happened during or (at least partially) because of it.   Rather, physical remnants of the Siege are memoirs, photos, works of art, and some unexpected small relics, including a stuffed pigeon, secret letter holders, and old bread.   This past weekend, on Saturday, April 9 th , I was invited by Bill & Rosa’s Book Room , one of my favorite used English bookstores, to do a presentation on the Siege of Paris and then a reading from Hearts at Dawn .   I was excited to share things about a moment in history that fascinates me and that’s little-known, even in the city and suburbs where it happened. But I have to admit, I was also a little nervous! Luckily, Arsène was there for moral support and to "help" me as I prepared my visual aids, as only a cat can.    In the end, the presentation see