Just the Facts: Book Discussion Recap from February 28th

Many thanks those who braved a wet end of February night to attend the book discussion last night. Their presence, as always, was much appreciated.

The book discussed last night was The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris by David McCullough. It is the story of adventurous Americans artists, writers, doctors, politicians and architects who traveled to Paris in the nineteenth century to learn and excel in their chosen professions. The book details the experiences of scores of these Americans including Samuel Morse, James Fenimore Cooper, Mary Cassat, Charles Sumner, Margaret Fuller, Elihu Washbourne and many more. Set against the turmoil of France in the 1830s and 40s, the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 and the Paris Commune that followed, the book is exciting and fascinating and explores the ways these Americans adapted to the situation and culture of Paris and brought new skills, learning and sensibilities home to America. Our discussion was wide ranging, covering American versus European attitudes towards food and cooking, urban versus suburban life, entertaining, Hemingway’s Lost Generation, city planning, the aura and romance of Paris, science versus art, the state of American education in the nineteenth century and much more. A good time was had by all.

Our next book, Catherine the Great: portrait of a woman by Robert K. Massie, will be discussed on Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 7:00 pm. The book is available at the Circulation Desk.