No ode to Paris would be complete without mentioning what is perhaps the most romantic river in the world: the Seine. Lucky for us, Elaine Sciolino has dedicated an entire volume to this magical waterway and the lively characters living on and around it. Part travelogue, part history, The Seine follows the river from Burgundy to Le Havre, visiting with historians and locals who illuminate the river's impact on French society. Sciolino also reveals how the river that created Paris has inspired her own life. It's a beautifully written tribute to an iconic body of water.