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Esther da Costa Meyer's book "Dividing Paris: Urban Renewal and Social Inequality, 1852–1870" provides a comprehensive urban history of Paris during the Second Empire, focusing on the transformation of the city under Napoleon III and Baron Haussmann. The book delves into various aspects of urban history, including conceptualizations, policies, infrastructure, buildings, social practices, and the roles of different actors involved in the urban transformation. Through meticulous research and nuanced analysis, da Costa Meyer highlights the complexities and tensions of a rapidly changing city, emphasizing the social differentiation and class divisions that emerged as a consequence of urban renewal. The book challenges the myth of Paris as the "capital of modernity" and offers valuable insights into the historical and cultural significance of the city's transformation during this period. [Extracted from the article]

"Banking on Slavery: Financing Southern Expansion in the Antebellum United States" by Sharon Ann Murphy explores the relationship between US financial systems and slavery in the 19th century. The book delves into how banks used enslaved people as collateral for loans, contributing to economic growth. Murphy's research sheds light on the intertwined histories of banking, slavery, and economic development in the United States, offering a fresh perspective on the Jacksonian Bank Wars and the role of enslaved individuals in the nation's financial system. [Extracted from the article]