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Reviewed by Joan G. Smith

BY: DAVID McCULLOUGH

The Greater Journey is a masterpiece in and of itself. Most of us know that Benjamin Franklin and John Adams lived and studied in Paris in the 1700’s. In the 1900’s we know many of our favorite authors called Paris home, such as Fitzgerald and Hemingway. However; in David McCullough’s nonfiction, inspiring book we find many adventurous Americans making the long and dangerous sea voyage to France in the years between 1830 and 1900. Many of these stories were untold until now, in The Greater Journey. These men and women were artists, doctors, architects, politicians and writers – and traveled to Paris to study and learn.

The United States at that time did not yet have great teaching hospitals, wonderful museums and teachers in many fields that were the best in the world. The list of these remarkable Americans and their achievements is unbelievably long in this book. Their names may be familiar, but their struggle to learn from the best profoundly changed America’s history and achievements.

These men and women went to the theaters and opera as well as pursuing their studies, and found the Louvre to be a fountain of information, no matter where their various careers would take them. I can only mention a few of the names – so many were involved in these pages. James Fenimore Cooper, Samuel Morse, George R. A, Healy, Elizabeth Blackwell ( first female doctor in America ), Oliver Wendell Holmes, as well as more writers such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mark Twain, Henry James, and Ralph Waldo Emerson. Harriet Beecher Stowe was not to be left out, and Emma Hart Willard, a teacher who brought many new ideas home to her school in the United States. This woman was in her 40’s when she came to Paris and an author of histories as well as teaching.

Some of these Americans had wealthy parents to help with expenses; but many did not. Their struggles to learn French, survive the winters and finally the Commune are all part of this story.

The color plates of the famous and those who became famous, as well as ballerinas, The Louvre , the architecture and even hotels and restaurants are beautiful, and included in this book.

I find myself making this review of a book much longer than usual, so I will end with a quote from the author, David McCullough; “Gnot all pioneers went west “.

David McCullough has received two Pulitzer Prizes, for Truman and John Adams.. He was the recipient twice of The National Book Award . To top it off, he also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, this nation’s highest civilian award.

Published: SIMON & SCHUSTER

1230 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

Copyright: © 2011 By: David McCullough