In Nights in the Big City, Paris, Berlin, London 1840–1930, Joachim Schlör examines how the invention of gas and electric lighting reshaped European urban nights. From gas-lit cafés in Paris to illuminated boulevards in Berlin and the electric glow of London’s streets, the book unveils the evolving relationship between residents and the city after dark.

Drawing on police and church archives, personal accounts, and literary references, Schlör paints a vivid cultural history of nocturnal life. Haunting photographs by Bill Brandt and André Kertész illustrate hidden corners and vibrant late-night scenes.

Readers will discover:

• How technological advances altered social rhythms and leisure
• The contrast between laborers’ night shifts and metropolitan nightlife
• Stories of clandestine meetings, street culture, and urban mysteries

This second edition offers a revised exploration of cityscapes where light and darkness collide, revealing the transformative power of illumination on urban experience.

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