Elaine Sciolino’s new book explores the history and mythology, the romantic and the everyday life of the magical Seine river that runs through the heart of Paris. In the spring of 1978, as a young journalist in Paris, Elaine Sciolino was seduced by a river. In The Seine, she tells the story of that river through its rich history and lively characters—a bargewoman, a riverbank bookseller, a houseboat dweller, a famous cameraman known for capturing the river’s light. She patrols with river police, rows with a restorer of antique boats, discovers a champagne vineyard, and even dares to swim in the Seine.

• The Seine, the River that Made Paris Details

Exact location: Maison Francaise East Gallery, Buell Hall, Columbia University, 515 West 116th Street.