("Eiffel's Tower" by Jill Jonnes, Viking, 354 pages, $27.95 ).

It is probably the most famous man-made landmark in history. Upon seeing its image everyone knows immediately that it is in Paris. Jill Jonnes tells the story of its beginnings, and it is a fascinating story.

She even gives us a gimmicky subtitle, "And the World's Fair Where Buffalo Bill Beguiled Paris, the Artists Quarreled, and Thomas Edison Became a Count."

In 1884, France announced a contest for a centerpiece for the forthcoming Paris World's Fair. Gustave Eiffel, a construction engineer who had built more than 50 wrought-iron bridges throughout France, entered the contest. Two years later his plan was accepted.

But not without much rancor: illustrious citizens and some not so illustrious, ridiculed the plan. "Too dangerous," said some. "Too ugly," said others. Parisian architects were especially distraught, and a public letter attacking the plan bore the signatures of such famous citizens as Charles Gounod, Guy de Maupassant and Alexandre Dumas fils.

The tower was barely completed by the spring of 1889 when the great fair was to begin. To Paris came millions of the world's citizens, including the Shah of Persia and King George of Greece, and even the German ambassador, whose country had chosen to boycott the fair. Queen Victoria, who disliked France's opposition to royalty, asked that Britain also boycott, but Prince Edward and his wife did attend, as did countless other folks from across the channel.

The World's Fair was a huge success - each day more than 11,000 people paid to ride up in the great tower, and by the end of the six-month fair, the total cost of the tower's construction has been recouped.

Buffalo Bill Cody and his Wild West Show came in a ship carrying 200 horses, 20 buffalo and many Native Americans.

Also present were the famous sharpshooter Annie Oakley and the genial inventor Thomas Alva Edison, who was given a hero's welcome by the French people as the creator of the electric bulb, if not of electricity itself.

The book is a pleasant romp through building crises and frustrations and ultimate success. Seven years ago, my wife and I and two Lincoln friends dined at a restaurant part way up the huge tower. I don't remember the meal, but the view was wonderful.

Charles Stephen is co-host of "All About Books," heard weekly on NET Radio.