A Tour of Two Cities: 18th Century London and Paris Compared

This new translation offers readers of English a unique look at eighteenth century London and England generally, compared to Paris and France in the same period. It was written by the sharp-tongued and observant journalist Linguet, who had moved there to start a French periodical far from French censorship. His observations range from overviews of official institutions like the Law and religion to descriptions of houses, furniture, markets. etc. Some samples: "Paris being approximately round, one must not be surprised to find London very long..."; "Vegetables boiled in water, an enormous roast, and which is reused, by the family, as long as it lasts; at most on ceremonial occasions, fish cooked like the vegetables, this is what the English cooking comes down to."