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bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
My only critique of this book is that it doesn't always feel cohesive, die to its structure, and it can be difficult at times to keep track of all the historical figures mentioned.
That aside, it's a beautiful book, particularly if you love Paris. McCullough does an outstanding job of capturing the magic of the city and the awe of some of its best-known features, such as the Eiffel Tower. His prose is so vivid I felt transported, and I was fascinated by many of his topics, such as his brief account of medical techniques. Though his books are dense, they're nothing like the boring, lifeless history texts I was subjected to in school, and it is such a pleasure to read such lively accounts of history, even for a layperson like me, who didn't much care for history as a student.
That aside, it's a beautiful book, particularly if you love Paris. McCullough does an outstanding job of capturing the magic of the city and the awe of some of its best-known features, such as the Eiffel Tower. His prose is so vivid I felt transported, and I was fascinated by many of his topics, such as his brief account of medical techniques. Though his books are dense, they're nothing like the boring, lifeless history texts I was subjected to in school, and it is such a pleasure to read such lively accounts of history, even for a layperson like me, who didn't much care for history as a student.
footprof's review against another edition
5.0
What a wonderful book. As always, McCullough delivers.
sallyavena's review against another edition
4.0
I just like the way he writes and the amount of research he does to back everything up. This time I do wish there was a list of all the people he wrote about, because I lost track of who was who if I put it down for a day or two. I also wished there was a simpler map of Paris to keep track of all of the places mentioned.
geekwayne's review against another edition
5.0
When I initially read the synopsis for this book, I wasn't sure if I would like it. Sure, I love David McCullough's writing, but the subject seemed to lack a certain cohesion in the descriptions I was reading. Americans travelling to Paris in the years from 1830 to 1900. It seemed a bit vague.
I needn't have worried. McCullough pulls together an array of interesting individuals who thread their way through the book. The cohesion is the city itself, with it's art, culture, revolutions, scandals, wars, etc.
Many interesting folk inhabit the pages of this book including painter (and later inventor) Samuel Morse, physicians Oliver Wendell Holmes and Elzabeth Blackwell, authors James Fenimore Cooper and Henry James.
Favorite people include Charles Sumner who suffered a grave injury in the states fighting for abolition, but found healing in Paris. Elihu Washburn, American diplomat to Paris during the German siege and the takeover of the Communards, and scuptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
I found the book entirely engaging, very informative, and, at times, quite touching. Highly recommended.
I needn't have worried. McCullough pulls together an array of interesting individuals who thread their way through the book. The cohesion is the city itself, with it's art, culture, revolutions, scandals, wars, etc.
Many interesting folk inhabit the pages of this book including painter (and later inventor) Samuel Morse, physicians Oliver Wendell Holmes and Elzabeth Blackwell, authors James Fenimore Cooper and Henry James.
Favorite people include Charles Sumner who suffered a grave injury in the states fighting for abolition, but found healing in Paris. Elihu Washburn, American diplomat to Paris during the German siege and the takeover of the Communards, and scuptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
I found the book entirely engaging, very informative, and, at times, quite touching. Highly recommended.
mam22nov's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent work by a prominent historian of those Americans who lived, worked, and studied in Paris between 1830 and 1900. Historical context, biographical detail, and the practicalities of daily life are all covered, and make for an engrossing book. The audio book was key in getting me through those parts that were less interesting to me.
duparker's review against another edition
3.0
the book I expected. A different take than the founding fathers Mccullogh has been working on. The book was well paced and felt fresh. I think there ia a good mix of biography and history in the overall text. this was the first I read anything about this period of history from the point of view of Americans living in Paris.
jgwenb's review against another edition
4.0
I love Paris and I love history, so this book was delightful pour moi. It’s a fascinating story of Americans in Paris during the 19th century. I found the first half talking about French medicine, Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Fenimore Cooper, the Second Empire, and the siege of 1870-1871 to be particularly interesting. Towards the end, I thought the story of Augustus Saint-Gaudens went on a little too long. It was interesting to see the Americans in Paris as a reflection of what was going on in America. For example, after 1880, not many Americans came to study medicine in Paris anymore because they could study it in America and receive just as good an education by then—very different than the state of American medicine in the 1830s. During the 1860s, hardly any Americans were in Paris. Later, Americans won more and more awards at each subsequent World Exposition. From an art and cultural standpoint, I had fun looking up works of art, Paris buildings and maps, and reading more in depth about certain characters for more context. Im always impressed by McCullough’s ability to draw on thousands of first-hand accounts like letters and diaries to really paint a picture of what life was like. Reading this book really made me want to visit the city of light again.
j_hornick's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
nuthatch's review against another edition
4.0
The Greater Journey is as much about Paris in the 19th century as it is about the American writers, artists, students, and travelers who fell in love with it.