This collection investigates the cultural, political, and social climate of Paris during the interwar period through the eyes of a keen observer. Janet Flanner, a long-time correspondent for The New Yorker, utilizes her extensive experience living in France to document the shifting landscape of European society. Her work provides a primary source account of the era, capturing the nuances of French life from 1925 until the onset of World War II.

Historians and literary critics frequently cite this collection as a foundational text for understanding the texture of Parisian life between the wars. Readers often note the sharp, observational quality of the prose and the author's ability to distill complex cultural shifts into accessible journalistic dispatches.