Dr Mike Rapport

Dr. Mike Rapport, a Reader in modern European history at the University of Glasgow and author of *City of Light, City of Shadows*, unravels the complexities of Paris's Belle Époque. He discusses the era's glamorous façade with vibrant cafes and can-can dancers, contrasted against the realities of poverty and inequality. The conversation dives into the Dreyfus Affair, revealing deep societal divisions and the rise of radical politics amidst a backdrop of cultural richness and urban transformation.

Mike Rapport, historian and author of City of Light, City of Shadows, offers a vivid mini-bio as a Belle Époque specialist. He explores why Paris became a cultural hub, the wild origins of the Moulin Rouge, its windmill symbol, elephant and donkey spectacles, the birth of the can-can, and how the venue shifted from raucous dancehall to commercial spectacle.