Speaking of Paris, one would like to rephrase the famous phrase from the movie "Forrest Gump": "Paris is the biggest box of chocolates, each of which is amazing and unpredictable, because you never know what filling will be inside. It can be viscous, sugary-sweet, or, conversely, with citrus bitterness - it doesn’t matter. The main thing is not to stop, keep moving forward along the endless cobbled streets along small boutiques, old-fashioned bistros, coquettish gardens, because you need to have time before … see Paris and die! Who said this familiar phrase? We will talk about this and not only further.
History
Who said "See Paris and die"? Before answering our question, let's turn to history. And we will have to go not just anywhere, but to a verydistant past - to Ancient Rome. Yes, all roads lead to Rome, and all because it was there that the expression arose: “See Rome and die!” But everything should not be taken literally: no one was ever going to sink into oblivion after visiting Rome. On the contrary, this is the highest assessment of the Eternal City on seven hills, the recognition that its beauty and spirit cannot be compared with anything in this mortal world.
It's not that simple
Subsequently, the popular expression left its native shores and went further - to Naples. And now on the streets of this amazing southern city here and there one hears: “Videre Napoli et Mori”. We will omit the literal translation for now, because there are two options for understanding. The first, our favorite: "See Naples and die!" The second, more true: “See Naples and Mori!”, - all with the same figurative meaning: “See everything!” Why has there been such confusion? The fact is that the word mori can be interpreted in two ways. In Latin, it means both the name of the village of Mori, which is located near Naples, and the verb "to die."
The story doesn't end there - the turnover is too bright, expressive and surprisingly accurate: "See … and die!" Not more than two centuries ago, the Italians created their loud motto: "Vedi Napoli e poi muori", which means: "See Naples and die!" And now without any "buts". In writing, it was first encountered in 1787 in the diary of Johann Goethe traveling around Europe. However, everything flows, everything changes, and the seaside townlost its former glory. She is a windy friend, went in search of new heroes - to Paris …
1931
Well, here we are in the beautiful French capital, which means that we are one step away from answering the question of who said "See Paris and die!".
In the 30s of the last century, in a city on the banks of the Seine, an unknown young man named Ilya Ehrenburg lived and worked at that time. He was a simple emigrant from Kyiv, a native of a Jewish family, but a real "Khreschatyk Parisian", as Yevgeny Yevtushenko called him, because he was truly in love with this amazing city. Even despite the fact that over time he decided to return to his homeland, to the Soviet Union, he was an ardent supporter of the victory of socialism throughout the world and a tireless propagandist of the Soviet system, he continued to admire Paris and repeatedly came there. Proof of this is his book "My Paris", published in 1931.
Book
Let's talk about the one who said: "See Paris and die!" It is in this book that this turnover is first encountered, which later becomes commonplace, especially among Soviet people. Probably, this is due not only to a certain magnetism, the unique beauty of this expression, but also to the “iron curtain” that existed at that time, restricting travel of citizens of the Soviet Union abroad. The forbidden fruit is known to be very sweet.
But let's get back to the book of Ilya Ehrenburg - the one who first said: "See Paris and die!" There are many books in the world dedicated to the capital of France -the city of artists and poets, trendsetter and gourmet cuisine. On the one hand, they believed him, admired him, and on the other, they disdained the poverty and filth of his poor neighborhoods. But the main thing is completely different: everyone, both fans and ill-wishers, was struck by his colossal size and hectic pace of life. And yet, the fact that Paris has never had an equal has been said and written more than once. How did Ilya Ehrenburg's book "My Paris" conquer the world?
Conclusion
He wrote and took photographs about the life of ordinary citizens, about how they are born, study, fall in love, work, rest. In fact, their life is no different from millions and billions of the same lives, except that the performance called "life path" unfolds against the backdrop of the Seine, Montmartre, winding Parisian streets. And all this is tirelessly removed by one person - the author of the work and those who said the phrase: "See Paris and die!" As a result, one and a half thousand photographs were obtained. The best were included in the book - a real photo album. An interesting fact is that for the first time the shooting was carried out with a hidden camera - a camera with a side viewfinder. It was the idea of Ilya Ehrenburg, who sought, first of all, to show the human side of the capital - its essence, because it is not the palaces and the Eiffel Tower that create a unique atmosphere, the aura of the city, but its inhabitants. Thus, Ilya Ehrenburg, a translator, poet, writer, publicist, photographer, and also the one who said “See Paris and die!”, With his unique work, called us not onlyadmire the French capital, and die to live and endlessly love both its unique beauty and the whole world.
