The Age of Comfort

*The Age of Comfort* examines the evolution of modern comfort and the birth of casual living standards in 17th and 18th century Paris. This cultural history traces how furniture, architecture, and fashion transformed from rigid formality to designs prioritizing physical ease and relaxation. DeJean documents specific innovations that emerged during this period, from upholstered furniture and cotton fabrics to indoor plumbing and private bedrooms. The narrative follows architects, furniture makers, and style leaders who drove these revolutionary changes in French society. The book reveals how these material shifts in design and domestic life reflected deeper societal changes in privacy, gender roles, and class structures. Through analysis of primary sources and artifacts, *The Age of Comfort* demonstrates how our modern concepts of livability and domestic comfort originated in this pivotal historical period.

Readers appreciate DeJean's research into how modern concepts of comfort and interior design emerged in 17th-18th century Paris. Many note the book's focus on furniture evolution, architectural changes, and the rise of casual living spaces. Liked: - Details about the origins of sofas, bathtubs, and indoor plumbing - Connections between French innovations and current home design - Social history perspective showing how comfort changed society Disliked: - Writing style can be repetitive - Too much focus on wealthy Parisians - Some sections drag with excessive detail - Limited discussion of developments outside France Several readers mentioned wanting more illustrations to accompany the architectural descriptions. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (346 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (71 reviews) Notable review: "Fascinating subject matter but gets bogged down in minutiae about French aristocrats' shopping habits" - Goodreads reviewer

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🏰 The book explores how Paris became the first city to prioritize comfort in architecture and furniture design, revolutionizing homes between 1670-1765. 🪑 The creation of the sofa in this era marked a dramatic shift in social behavior, as people moved away from formal, rigid seating to more relaxed, intimate gathering spaces. 👗 Joan DeJean is a trustee professor at the University of Pennsylvania and has written extensively about French cultural history, including nine books about life in 17th and 18th century France. 🛁 Indoor plumbing and the modern bathroom concept emerged during this period, with the first flush toilet installed in Versailles in 1738 for Marie Leszczyńska, Louis XV's wife. 🏠 The invention of the corridor during this time period gave birth to the concept of private space in homes, as previously rooms simply opened directly into one another.