I was advised to write this blog about me. If I hadn’t been so advised, this particular topic would not be here. So I’m going to skip the embarrassing stuff and get right to the good stuff.
I’m not sure if you saw the recent Yahoo Travel “10 Best Places to Explore theUnderworld.”
They were very cool places and if you are a dedicated traveler, some (if not all) seem to be great places to visit.
Paris Catacombs. Photo by Dan Owen.
However, I’m baffled as to why the Paris Catacombs were not included.
The underground “city” of Seattle was included. The subterranean system of the Fremantle, Australia prison was touted. The Colosseum Hypgeum (basically, the “basement” of the Rome Colosseum) where the gladiators and animals waited before ascending to the arena is included. Read More Why Didn’t They Include the Paris Catacombs?
“Stew blends the dark history of buildings in Paris that are associated with the infamous deeds of the Gestapo with contrasting insights into the bravery of the French people, who, at great risk to themselves and their families, secretly resisted the German Occupation.”
Stanley Booker, MBE, RAF (Ret.), Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur
“Informative and entertaining, Stew Ross’ newest work evokes a difficult and frightening time in the history of the City of Light. The detailed descriptions of sites such as the Vél’ d’hiv’ or Gestapo headquarters reminds us of the choices people made during those years.”
Cynthia Bisson, PhD, Professor of History, Belmont University, French Resistant Expert