Leonard’s eclectic interests have lead him to write seven books. Three books on Paris, Walks Through Lost Paris – 2002, Paris, A Journey Through Time – 2008, and Paris Postcards – The Golden Age – 2010. His fourth book, A Small Moment of Great Illumination – 2006, is about the life of the 17th century Anglo-Irish healer Valentine Greatrakes, His fifth, a memoir, My Brain on Fire, Paris and Other Obsessions, was released in March 2016. In 2025 he came out with, Letters From My Crazy Uncle. Released in spring 2026, I Never Saw This Coming, How My Grandson Changed My Life.
Books
Walks Through Lost Paris
A Walking Guide to the Transformation of Paris
published by Shoemaker and Hoard
Walk through the heart of Paris with hundreds of photos, maps, and engravings in hand to discover a Paris that no longer exists.
Preface by Alexandre Gady, assistant professor at the Sorbonne, excerpted and translated
Paris: A Journey Through Time
published by Counterpoint
“This American of Paris, artist and inveterate seeker, is not made like common mortals . . . He is an archeologist, but of the eyes. He pokes around, rummages through every nook and cranny, in passageways, courtyards and hidden facades. Showing us what we no longer see because our personal and collective memories have done their job of forgetting, this is what this quirky kind of Parisian loves doing.”
-Detours en France
Paris Postcards
The Golden Age
published by Counterpoint.
“In this gorgeous collection, Pitt has chosen postcards that show readers a Paris that no longer exists. In his fascinating introduction, he discusses the birth of the postcard. The postcard, he writes, “revolutionized communication and created the first form of social networking equivalent to today’s e-mail.” (But, of course, at a much slower pace.) Each postcard is accompanied by informative captions. Pitt also includes sample postcards from American visitors to Paris writing to loved ones back home. It’s an utterly charming collection that captures a moment in time.”
-Chicago Tribune
I Never Saw This Coming
HOW MY GRANDSON CHANGED MY LIFE
When Miles was very small he loved to fall sleep on my tummy. One night when he was five years old, lying there, he lifted his head, looked me straight in the eye and said, “You are the papa I could have. I am the son you could have. Life never ends even when you’re dead. True love never dies.”
Five years old! Stunned does not describe my reaction. There are many more such surprises in these pages.
Letters From My Crazy Uncle
Leonard Pitt’s 20 year weekly correspondence with his Uncle Arthur produced a plethora of letters that are a pure riot. His Uncle’s letters that is. Not Leonard’s. He has performed them onstage with great hilarity. Master monologuist, Spalding Gray, was in the audience and afterwards exhorted Leonard, “You’ve got to do a book!” Whether Arthur is writing about his many financial travails, is trying to get Leonard married, is telling stories of his female pursuits, or going on and on about his addiction to fresh fruit, his inimitable way of expressing himself will leave you more than bemused.
My Brain on Fire
Pitt’s memoir illuminates the many aspects of his restless mind that gave rise to riveting, life changing experiences in Paris, Ireland and Bali and to his singular understanding of the social forces that gave rise to modern architecture or the classical ballet.
A Small Moment of Great Illumination
Searching for Valentine Greatrakes, The Master Healer
published by Shoemaker and Hoard
“It’s all endlessly fascinating and great fun, full of literary intrigue and unexpected pleasures.”
-June Sawyers © American Library
Assoc.