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

David McCullough ALWAYS A GOOD ACCURATE READ

His books are never boring. He writes in such a way as he adds life and vitality and a bit of spice about his subject(s)

Thank you David

intriguing events with historical figures

Would you listen to The Greater Journey again? Why?

yes, it would be like spending times with old friends and I could listen to David McCullough narrate forever.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Charles Sumner because of his versatile intellect and compassion and work toward anti slavery

Which character – as performed by Edward Herrmann – was your favorite?

Charles Sumner; David McCullough narrated my book

Edward Hermann's reading is spectacular

I have read other David McCullough books, I am glad I listened to this one.
this was not a linear historical read but rather a number of tales of different Americans time in Paris from the early 1800's to the end of that century. I think reading it would have frustrated me, however listening to it I was able to just. enjoy the stories.

Great read about a crucial period

Very well written of course. The journey to Paris by boat, what an adventure at the time. You would embark not knowing whether you would get there. The vivid descriptions of Paris in the 1800s, the famous and less famous characters, the terrible Commune period, etc.
I found the book very entertaining. I’m not so much into paintings so the end was a bit too focused on details of specific paintings, but that’s a minor negative.
I enjoyed this book and learned a great deal about the multiple connections between America and Paris at that time.

The history behind the history of American artists

This book brings Paris in the late 1800s to life!
So many amazing American artists, writers and medical professionals honed their craft during time spent in Paris. If you have ever been, this book brings history and place to life, and if you haven’t, this book paints a compelling picture and good reasons to go!

The Greater Journey

Enjoyed this book, very good author, very informative with information of the times ,made it a super listen to. Like to listen to all of his works.

Voice

I almost did not listen to this book because I couldn’t stand the voice in the introduction. So glad I continued and enjoyed Hermann’s voice.

I seldom listen twice. This book is the exception.

Picking a favorite McCullough book is tough. Mornings on Horseback has been a favorite for decades, but the sweep of The Greater Journey, it’s broad cast of characters, and it’s expositions on art, war, and Paris life make it enjoyable from beginning to end.

Relaxingly fascinating

McCullough is simply sublime at weaving history for the layman. Being a layman himself and not a professional academic, his approach is soft, focusing on the important people of the 19th century who traveled to Paris from the US. The book gives the listener a great street-level view of French history along with a peek into 19th art, architecture, and medicine. Also, you can't beat the soothing tones of Edward Hermann.

Engaging and Informative

Although relatively lengthy, I found that this book went by quickly and in a very entertaining manner. McCullough does a very nice job weaving together the stories of many Americans who spent considerable time in Paris during the 19th Century. While some prior reviewers found the story a little disjointed, it is told in a chronological matter and I never found the story difficult to follow. The number of upheavals that Paris experienced during this Century is explained in considerable detail, describing the human suffering and the courage and humanity of American visitors during this time. But equally important is what Americans were able to take away and bring back to the U.S. that is fascinating. While many are aware that Paris representing the peak of culture at this time, I'm not so sure many of us knew the primacy of Paris in the field of medicine and the contributions it made to early American doctors. It is also interesting to follow the advance of America from a large but nascent country to standing on the precipice of greatness that would be realized during the next century that is so well described by McCullough as he describes the advances being made through the industrialization of the U.S. and innovations in communications (telegraph) by a man starting as an artist in Paris and leaving Paris with an idea about transmission of dots and dashes over wires that would dramatically change the speed of communications.

And, of course, the narration by Edward Herrmann is beyond reproach. I never tire of books narrated by Mr. Herrmann.