Photo : Lionel Longueville
If the Réunion district could tell its story
Come and discover his anecdotes and the endearing characters that make up the history of the neighborhood!
Bibliothèque Louise Michel (Paris 20th)
About
The Louise Michel library invites Dominique Longueville and Gérard Delbet for a reading of excerpts and a discussion around the book If the Réunion district could tell its story by Dr. Lionel Longueville.
Lionel Longueville would have been one hundred years old in 2025.
The reissue of this book – with photos of today – is an affectionate nod to him. Through his numerous documents, his delightful anecdotes, his endearing and colorful characters, it is the history of this village of winemakers that he passed on to us and that we are happy to share. We hope that newcomers will also be seduced by this “popular, multicultural, bohemian, and friendly neighborhood that has managed to keep its soul and where life is good,” according to The Guardian newspaper, which ranked it among the ten most pleasant neighborhoods in Europe! A historical figure of Charonne, Doctor Lionel Longueville, physician, witness, and historian, victim of the coronavirus.
An old-fashioned doctor, treating souls as much as bodies with equal attention, Lionel Longueville was born in 1925 in Montreuil (Seine-Saint-Denis). He had, he said, a calling as a country doctor, and that is undoubtedly why he chose to settle, in the early 1950s, in the Réunion district, in Charonne. A neighborhood that was still a bit rural at that time, certainly, but above all a “mosaic neighborhood,” with often modest inhabitants, of very varied origins, with a strong working-class predominance… With his patients, this simple, jovial, and benevolent man liked to have a chat after the consultation, conversations that allowed him to get closer to his patients, to understand their worries and their living conditions.
From his experience, he drew two works, “If the Réunion district could tell its story: ordinary chronicles of a country doctor” in Paris (Éditions de l’Amandier, 1997) and Charonne: “Chronicles and portraits of yesteryear and recently” (Éditions de l'Amandier, 2007). With Doctor Longueville, our district loses a witness to its history and a chronicler full of sensitivity and wisdom.
Our take on this event
Discover the hidden charms and rich past of Charonne through the eyes of its most beloved local chronicler. This event brings the neighborhood’s vibrant history to life, blending community memories with the soul of a former Parisian village. It is a beautiful way to fall in love with one of the city's most authentic and creative pockets.
The Louise Michel library hosts a special event exploring the book Si le quartier de la Réunion m’était conté by doctor Lionel Longueville. On Saturday, November 28, 2026, Dominique Longueville and Gérard Delbet will lead a reading and discussion detailing the transformation of this unique 20th-arrondissement area from a vineyard village into a vibrant, multicultural hub. This free event, which is wheelchair accessible, is open to anyone aged 12 and over interested in local history and the observations of a dedicated neighborhood physician. Join this insightful session to uncover the soul of Charonne through the eyes of a man who witnessed its evolution.
On Saturday, November 28, 2026, from 16:00 to 17:30, head to the Louise Michel library for an afternoon of readings and conversations centered on the work Si le quartier de la Réunion m’était conté. Dominique Longueville and Gérard Delbet will guide attendees through the life and writings of the late Dr. Lionel Longueville, a physician who served the Charonne neighborhood starting in the 1950s.
The book, now reissued with contemporary photographs, documents the evolution of this area from its rural, vineyard-focused roots to the diverse, bohemian, and welcoming neighborhood it is today. Through anecdotes and portraits, the author shared his experiences with the modest, hardworking people he cared for, leaving behind a sensitive chronicle of the 20th arrondissement’s history.
This event is designed for audiences aged 12 and up. Participation is free, and no reservation is required to attend. The venue is fully accessible to wheelchair users, ensuring that everyone can join this exploration of local heritage.
