Borrow it
Coverart for item
The Resource When the United States spoke French : five refugees who shaped a nation, François Furstenberg

When the United States spoke French : five refugees who shaped a nation, François Furstenberg

Creator
Author
Summary
In 1789, as the French Revolution shook Europe to the core, the new United States was struggling for survival in the face of financial insolvency and bitter political and regional divisions. When the United States Spoke French explores the republic's formative years from the viewpoint of a distinguished circle of five Frenchmen taking refuge in America. When the French Revolution broke out, these men had been among its leaders. They were liberal aristocrats and ardent Anglophiles, convinced of the superiority of the British system of monarchy and constitution. They also idealized the new American republic, which seemed to them an embodiment of the Enlightenment ideals they celebrated. But soon the Revolutionary movement got ahead of them, and they found themselves chased across the Atlantic. François Furstenberg follows these five men -- Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, Napoleon's future foreign minister; theorist/reformer Rochefoucauld, the duc de Liancourt; Louis-Marie Vicomte de Noailles; Moreau de Saint-Méry; and Constantin-François Chasseboeuf, Comte Volney -- as they left their homes and families in France, crossed the Atlantic, and landed in Philadelphia -- then America's capital, its principal port, and by far its most cosmopolitan city and the home of the wealthiest merchants and financiers. The book vividly reconstructs their American adventures, following along as they integrated themselves into the city and its elite social networks, began speculating on backcountry lands, and eventually became enmeshed in Franco-American diplomacy. Through their stories, we see some of the most famous events of early American history in a new light, from the diplomatic struggles of the 1790s to the Haitian Revolution to the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. By the end of this period, the United States was on its way to becoming a major global power. Through this small circle of men, we find new ways to understand the connections between U.S. and world history, and gain fresh insight into American history's most critical era. Beautifully written and brilliantly argued, When the United States Spoke French offers a fresh perspective on the tumultuous years of the young nation, when the first great republican experiments were put to the test
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
498 pages
Contents
  • Strange reunions: an introduction
  • Pt. 1: The United States speaks French. France comes to America ; Settling in America : Philadelphia speaks French ; Franco-American networks and polite Atlantic spaces
  • Pt. 2: The French Revolution in the West. Transatlantic land speculation ; France in the Mississippi Valley ; The émigrés return to France, France returns to America
  • A conclusion: Empty houses
Isbn
9781594204418
Instance
Label
When the United States spoke French : five refugees who shaped a nation
Title
When the United States spoke French
Title remainder
five refugees who shaped a nation
Statement of responsibility
François Furstenberg
Creator
Author
Subject
Language
eng
Summary
In 1789, as the French Revolution shook Europe to the core, the new United States was struggling for survival in the face of financial insolvency and bitter political and regional divisions. When the United States Spoke French explores the republic's formative years from the viewpoint of a distinguished circle of five Frenchmen taking refuge in America. When the French Revolution broke out, these men had been among its leaders. They were liberal aristocrats and ardent Anglophiles, convinced of the superiority of the British system of monarchy and constitution. They also idealized the new American republic, which seemed to them an embodiment of the Enlightenment ideals they celebrated. But soon the Revolutionary movement got ahead of them, and they found themselves chased across the Atlantic. François Furstenberg follows these five men -- Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord, Napoleon's future foreign minister; theorist/reformer Rochefoucauld, the duc de Liancourt; Louis-Marie Vicomte de Noailles; Moreau de Saint-Méry; and Constantin-François Chasseboeuf, Comte Volney -- as they left their homes and families in France, crossed the Atlantic, and landed in Philadelphia -- then America's capital, its principal port, and by far its most cosmopolitan city and the home of the wealthiest merchants and financiers. The book vividly reconstructs their American adventures, following along as they integrated themselves into the city and its elite social networks, began speculating on backcountry lands, and eventually became enmeshed in Franco-American diplomacy. Through their stories, we see some of the most famous events of early American history in a new light, from the diplomatic struggles of the 1790s to the Haitian Revolution to the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. By the end of this period, the United States was on its way to becoming a major global power. Through this small circle of men, we find new ways to understand the connections between U.S. and world history, and gain fresh insight into American history's most critical era. Beautifully written and brilliantly argued, When the United States Spoke French offers a fresh perspective on the tumultuous years of the young nation, when the first great republican experiments were put to the test
Cataloging source
DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Furstenberg, François
Dewey number
944.04092/2
Illustrations
illustrations
Index
index present
LC call number
DC158.1
LC item number
.F87 2014
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Political refugees
  • French
  • Political refugees
  • Aristocracy (Social class)
  • France
  • Philadelphia (Pa.)
  • United States
Target audience
adult
Label
When the United States spoke French : five refugees who shaped a nation, François Furstenberg
Instantiates
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
Strange reunions: an introduction -- Pt. 1: The United States speaks French. France comes to America ; Settling in America : Philadelphia speaks French ; Franco-American networks and polite Atlantic spaces -- Pt. 2: The French Revolution in the West. Transatlantic land speculation ; France in the Mississippi Valley ; The émigrés return to France, France returns to America -- A conclusion: Empty houses
Control code
ocn881146234
Dimensions
25 cm
Extent
498 pages
Isbn
9781594204418
Lccn
2014005400
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Note
973.4 F983 ; XX-N ; es ; M14BP004.
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
  • (Sirsi) 881146234
  • (Sirsi) 881146234
  • (OCoLC)881146234
Label
When the United States spoke French : five refugees who shaped a nation, François Furstenberg
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Contents
Strange reunions: an introduction -- Pt. 1: The United States speaks French. France comes to America ; Settling in America : Philadelphia speaks French ; Franco-American networks and polite Atlantic spaces -- Pt. 2: The French Revolution in the West. Transatlantic land speculation ; France in the Mississippi Valley ; The émigrés return to France, France returns to America -- A conclusion: Empty houses
Control code
ocn881146234
Dimensions
25 cm
Extent
498 pages
Isbn
9781594204418
Lccn
2014005400
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Note
973.4 F983 ; XX-N ; es ; M14BP004.
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
  • (Sirsi) 881146234
  • (Sirsi) 881146234
  • (OCoLC)881146234

Subject

Library Locations

    • Antioch BranchBorrow it
      6060 N. Chestnut Ave., Gladstone, MO, 64119 , US
      39.20389 -94.54657
    • Blue Ridge BranchBorrow it
      9253 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City, MO, 64138 , US
      38.95633 -94.50441
    • Boardwalk BranchBorrow it
      8656 N. Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO, 64154 , US
      39.25022 -94.65048
    • Excelsior Springs BranchBorrow it
      1460 Kearney Road, Excelsior Springs, MO, 64024 , US
      39.340407 -94.244355
    • Lee's Summit BranchBorrow it
      150 NW Oldham Pkwy., Lee's Summit, MO, 64081 , US
      38.915628 -94.400799
    • Raytown BranchBorrow it
      6131 Raytown Road, Raytown, MO, 64133, US
      39.010894 -94.462706
    • South Independence BranchBorrow it
      13700 E. 35th St., Independence, MO, 64055 , US
      39.05803 -94.41822
    • Woodneath Library CenterBorrow it
      8900 NE Flintlock Road, Kansas City, MO, 64157, US
      39.253636 -94.467911

Library Links

Structured data from the Bibframe namespace is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Mid-Continent Public Library. Additional terms may apply to data associated with third party namespaces.
Processing Feedback ...