Image/Language

This gallery holds a collection of photos from a 2010 research trip to Marseille.

60 Rue Grignan, original home of the Centre Américain de Secours
“60 rue Grignan: a biscuit-colored nineteenth- century building with a men’s clothier on the street level, three floors of offices above, white shutters splayed in the southern light. Above the main doorway was an iron railing worked into the shape of two ancient oil lamps, between them an oval encircling an intertwined R and J. Marseille was full of these little architectural mysteries, coded keys to the city’s secret life.” (p.43, The Flight Portfolio)

Sailboats on the Vieux Port, Marseille
“The Vieux Port was a knitwork of sailboat masts, their angled guy ropes crosshatching the brilliant steel blue of the water. “(p.71, The Flight Portfolio)

Steps of the Gare St. Charles, Marseille
“He climbed the broad stairs to the Gare St. Charles in the predawn blue, his nerves lit with adrenaline, suitcase in his hand.” (p.97, The Flight Portfolio)

Spice and Dried Fruits Market, Marseille
“It was, Varian thought, the only way to answer the hunger that came upon a man as he walked through the market streets south of La Canebière, past the great barrel-sized sacks of spices that threw clouds of red or burnt-umber scent into the air.” (p.140, The Flight Portfolio)

At 60 Rue Grignan, Marseille
“Along with bread, jam, meat, sugar, coffee, smokes, petrol, and nearly everything else, bicycles had gone scarce in wartime Marseille.” (p.142, The Flight Portfolio)

Hotel du Forum, Arles
“Hirschman assured him that once they reached Arles, they’d find a comfortable hotel at the main square. He named the place— Hôtel du Forum—and said he knew the proprietor, who would see they had everything they needed.” (p.144, The Flight Portfolio)

Roman Arena at Arles
“The next day they visited the ruins of Arles: the grand stadium that had once hosted gladitorial competitions, its thirty-six perfect arches and its stage channeled to drain the blood…”(p.160, The Flight Portfolio)

Roman Theater at Arles
“…the ancient theater with its sixteen marble tiers, the terraced cup of it acoustically perfect at the backmost row.” (p.160, The Flight Portfolio)

Arles
“My son is a bicycle-racing fanatic,” Castorel said, musingly. “He follows the Tour de France in the papers. His birthday’s in a month. I’ve been wanting to get him his own bicycle, but they’re so hard to come by just now, as you must know.” (p.166, The Flight Portfolio)