The mere fact that this book was written by David McCullough makes it worthwhile reading. Though I much prefer other of his works--especially Truman, 1776, and John Adams--The Greater Journey is still quintessential McCullough: meticulous research, rich detail, compelling character study, wonderful anecdotes, smooth narrative, and fascinating subject. What's so magical about McCullough is that he can take a subject that others have written on before and make it so much more interesting and approachable.
The Greater Journey, as the title suggests, is a history of Americans in Paris during the 19th century. Between 1830 and 1900, hundreds of Americans--many of them future household names like Oliver Wendell Holmes, Mark Twain, Samuel Morse, and Harriet Beecher Stowe--migrated to Paris. McCullough shows first how Paris affected each of them in turn and how they then helped shape American art, medicine, writing, science, and politics in profound ways when they came back to the United States. I particularly enjoyed McCullough's treatment of the many great American portrait artists who went to Paris seeking to better their craft. My favorite part by far was his account of the time served in Paris by Elihu B. Washburne as United States Ambassador to France for President Ulysses S. Grant. Washburne worked tirelessly for the welfare and benefit of many Parisians and expatriate Germans during the Franco-Prussian War and the civil unrest that followed the war. I felt real pride in what Washburne did.
Tremendous book. Well done.
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