The following books are only a way to provide a first glance at Art Nouveau architecture, without being a specialist. However they have in common a nice iconography, an interesting approach of the subject &, last but not least (according to me), they aren't too hard to find. Those among them impossible to circumvent are marked with a *. For this english version of my site I intended to find english editions of french books I list below ; have a nice reading !

* Jean - Pierre Lyonnet, Bruno Dupont, Laurent Sully Jaulmes, Guimard Perdu - Histoire d'une méprise, Editions Alternatives, Paris, 2003. This is, as far as I know, the last book of importance published about Guimard. It exclusively (but not bitterly) deals with the destructed or modified Guimard buildings. The style is as much brilliant as it is erudite ; many never before seen photographic documents make this book a must-have for the 1900 amateur.

* Felipe Ferré & Georges Vigne, Hector Guimard, Charles Moreau & Felipe Ferré, Paris, 2003 (in english : Delano Greenridge Editions, 2003) - This biography is a much more solid & documented one than Maurice Rheims' attempt also published by Ferré during the '80s (& which benefited from Vigne's incredible knowledge). It contains an up-to-date inventory of Guimard's oeuvre, including the most recent discoveries (more seems to be on the way). The always breathtaking Ferré's views give a truly unique feel : Art Nouveau has found its official photographer.

* Collectif, 1900, RMN, Paris, 2000 - Catalogue of the exhibition which took place at the Grand-Palais in June 2000. This is a must-have.

* Collectif, Guimard, RMN, Paris, 1992 - Catalogue of the exhibition which took place at the Musée d'Orsay & at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs et des Tissus de Lyon in 1992 & 1993. This one is really beautiful, almost enchanting. Georges Vigne's contribution is, as usual, penetrant & remarkable ; it contains some interesting stuff about my favourite one, Jules Lavirotte. This publication perfectly supplements those I review above, since it features some studies about Guimard's works as a designer.

Collectif, Pionniers du XXe siècle - Guimard, Horta, Van de Velde, musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, 1971 - Catalogue of the first main exhibition dedicated to Art Nouveau in France.

* Hector Guimard, Le Castel Béranger, l'Art dans l'habitation moderne, Electa, Milan, 1997. This is the bilingual French/Italian lavish fac-simile of the original 1898 edition. You still can find it at the same prohibitive prize on the website of this excellent italian editor.

L. & N. Chaudun, Paris Céramique, Somogy, Paris, 1998. A funny & beautiful piece of work, allowing you to discover many fine places in Paris & its suburbs, amongst which Art Nouveau buildings are legion. Nevertheless, be careful when you read it because the texts are not always as accurate as they should, containing many historic mistakes. This lack of accuracy is a shame but should not prevent you from taking a glance at this nice & original book.

K. Tahara, Art Nouveau, éditions Assouline, Paris, 2000 (in english : Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2000). Those artistic views are interspersed with historical & esthetic comments. They display all the charm & mystery Art Nouveau deals with (in spite, or maybe because of, its many incarnations).

* F. Roussel, Nancy, architecture 1900, éditions Serpenoise, Nancy, 1998 (3 volumes box set). Magnificent & exhaustive, the perfect Nancy 1900 touristic guide.

Collectif, L'École de Nancy 1889-1909 : Art nouveau et industries d'art - Exhibition catalogue, RMN, Ville de Nancy, 1999.

S. Bourgoin, Le livre rouge de Jack l'Éventreur, Grasset, Paris, 1998. Complete with a huge bibliography & an impressive filmography !

D. Barillari et E. Godoli, Istanbul 1900, Seuil, Paris, 1997.

* Y. Oostens-Wittamer, Horta : l'hôtel Solvay, Diane de Selliers, Paris, 1996. This tremendously beautiful album was written with delicacy & nostalgia by an ancient proprietary of the Hôtel Solvay, who preserved it with devotion & wisdom. It seems an english edition of this moving book has been released by the Louvain University in 1980.

F. Aubry, C. Bastin, J. Evrard, Victor Horta à Bruxelles, Racine, Paris, 1995.