This elegantly written book describes the changes in the perception and experience of the night in three great European cities: Paris, Berlin, and London.

The lighting of European cities by gas and electricity in the 19th century brought about a new relationship with the night. Researcher Joachim Schlor has sifted through countless police and church archives, city records, and first-hand accounts, and has explored the highways and byways of Paris, Berlin, and London to trace the development of "night life"--bars, clubs, cabarets, and the worlds of criminality and prostitution. 69 illustrations.