Bohemians of the Latin Quarter by Henri Murger - Introduction 

Bohemians of the Latin Quarter / Scenes of Bohemian Life / Scènes de la vie de Bohème is a collection of stories and sketches by French writer Henry Murger, published in 1851. The book portrays the lives of impoverished artists and writers living in the Latin Quarter of Paris in the 1840s. Murger's work provides a vivid and romanticized portrayal of the bohemian lifestyle, with its focus on art, love, and freedom, as well as the struggles and hardships that come with it. The book's characters are often inspired by real-life figures from the artistic community, and the work has been widely influential in shaping the popular image of the bohemian lifestyle.
A free copy of this book is available through Project Gutenberg.
Background illustration: The Seascape Painter (Le Peintre de marine) by Félix-Hilaire Buhot