My mother-in-law(Ma Belle Mere en francais), gave me this book for my birthday in June by a writer named David McCullough. The full title is "The Greater Journey, Americans in Paris."
What I enjoy about this book is that I get to read about some interesting American politicians, artists, writers, musicians and would be doctors who journeyed to Paris to become involved in European politics, make a mark on Parisian ears, attend the highly developed schools and become apprentices to master artists. Their journey over the Atlantic was dangerous, but they were compelled to go for many reasons.
Today was a bit grim, as the pages I covered were recollections of France declaring war on Prussia(modern day Germany) on July 15th 1870. There was an initial excitement by the French, but then an inability to withstand the strength of the Germans who put them under a siege in Paris for a miserable fall and winter. Many died of starvation and sickness from the cold or small pox if they weren't involved in protecting the city. People resorted to eating the unimaginable; dogs, cats, sparrows, and rats.
An American, who the author goes into much detail about in this chapter is Elihu Washburne, the ambassador of the U.S. at the time. He remains in the city to help fellow Americans and Germans who were living in Paris at the time try to leave the country or house and feed those in need. He seemed to serve his post well though the situation grew dismal each day, and he became sick from long hours at work, illness, and sadness from time to time(du temp au temp).
Paris surrendered after the 131st day of the siege to Washburne's delight
"Hail mighty day! Not a gun is heard today, the most profound quiet reigns..."(p. 301)
McCullough, David. The Greater Journey, Americans in Paris. New York. Simon and Schuster, 2011.
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