Between the wars, Paris was a magical glittering city, the vibrant capital of the world of art. It was alive with artists, musicians and writers from every continent who contributed to a period of rapid change. Yet there was a curious air of unreality and throughout France it was an age of illusion. An extraordinary period of social ferment and explosive creativity is revealed in this book. Drawing on contemporary accounts, photographs, posters, drawings and advertisements, the authors provide a rich documentation of a place and epoch which were perhaps most responsible for determinnig the artistic tone of our century.