The Greater Journey

Americans in Paris

By: David McCullough

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann

Length: 16 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

The Greater Journey is the enthralling, inspiring - and until now, untold - story of the adventurous American artists, writers, doctors, politicians, architects, and others of high aspiration who set off for Paris in the years between 1830 and 1900, ambitious to excel in their work.

After risking the hazardous journey across the Atlantic, these Americans embarked on a greater journey in the City of Light. Most had never left home, never experienced a different culture. None had any guarantee of success. That they achieved so much for themselves and their country profoundly altered American history.

As David McCullough writes, “Not all pioneers went west.”

Nearly all of the Americans profiled here - including Elizabeth Blackwell, James Fenimore Cooper, Mark Twain, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Harriet Beecher Stowe - whatever their troubles learning French, their spells of homesickness, and their suffering in the raw cold winters by the Seine, spent many of the happiest days and nights of their lives in Paris. McCullough tells this sweeping, fascinating story with power and intimacy, bringing us into the lives of remarkable men and women who, in Saint-Gaudens’s phrase, longed “to soar into the blue”. The Greater Journey is itself a masterpiece.

©2011 David McCullough (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Fascinating account of American artists in Paris

David McCullough narrates the lives of American artists in Paris, using many original sources. August St. Gaudens, Mary Cassatt, John Singer Sargent and others, seeking inspiration abroad, come to life.

A trip back in time to 19th century Paris.

The sights, sounds, and feelings of Americans in Paris. sorry to have it end.

The beginning is best part

Compare to experiences of Americans who went to Paris in 20s&30s.
These were better off economically, thus had different take on Paris -- these travelers seemed too idealistic & had romantic notions of the French & Paris.

The origins of creativity revealed

This is another gem of historical writing from McCullough. It was slow at first, but as you get into it, you find a plethora of fascinating stories about some of our nation's most creative geniuses. Thanks to McCullough, we can better appreciate the life of Samuel Morse; an artist as well as an inventor. I found myself going to web searches almost every day to look at the works of the many artists who went to Paris in the 1800s. Even more revealing is the fresh look we get at one of the world's most captivating cities.

Weaving French and American histories

The narrative is a thread of personal stories about famous American writers, artists, politicians and médécins who explored Paris between 1830 and 1900. Locating these familiar personalities within the context of social and historical events in Paris, like the production of famous artworks, the Paris Exhibition, the rise and fall of Napoleon, the Franco-Prussian war (which changed the balance of power in Europe that led up to WWI), fashion, hospital care, attitudes towards women, and other passing milestones, McCullough canters along at an amiable pace with his amazing attention to local detail. I was quite entertained as my synapses made transatlantic connections with the parallel history of Paris in France and our American story. I'd say it's a creative premise, giving pleasant, absorptive, informative listening.

American heroes I didn't know

This book wonderfully presented the story of many American doctors and artists I now admire.

one slow moving book

It took me a very long time to get into this book. its probably my least favorite by David McCullough. his usual stuff is great.

Fascinating review of how America learned art and medicine from the French

Loved the history and the details of how many of America's great doctors, artists and sculptors learned their craft and science from our French neighbors. Revolutionary indeed. And a quantum leap in understanding how we leap-frogged ahead based on what we learned there and exported to America. Thank you France!

A Little Tedious

I wanted to like it, but found myself wishing it was shorter. Couldn't wait to be done so I could move on to something new.

The Greater Journey Delights

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, written with the attention to detail that McCullough always brings to his work.

I finished the book with a greater appreciation of the influence Paris had on so many Americans in the 1800's, especially American artists.

I especially loved learning about the works of American artist, Sargent, Cassatt, and St. Gaudens.

The narration was wonderfully done as well.