Most members of the DES Book Club enjoyed McCullough’s detailed, wide-ranging account of Americans in Paris from the 1830s to the close of the nineteenth century. Many readers commented on McCullough’s easy, graceful style; they were impressed also by his thorough research and his use of sources like letters and diaries to illuminate the individual lives of his American subjects. And of course they were impressed by the range of fields this work covers—medicine, technology, art, literature, and the many Americans who were transformed by their studies in Paris. In particular, the accounts of artists were vivid and compelling. A few readers felt that the work covered too much detail, so the effect was scattered; they felt McCullough had assembled material without achieving a unified narrative with an “arc” or controlling idea. But in general there was admiration for McCullough’s achievement and his ability to convey the energy and wonder of these encounters with Paris. We all agreed that the paperback would benefit from better maps, especially to encourage an understanding of the extensive changes in Paris during these years.
At the close of the meeting, Nancy Rospenda reminded everyone to send her any contributions to the newsletter—especially accounts of how we spent the year of the pandemic. Contributions should reach her by June 30 for the next issue of the newsletter.
We enjoy catching up with our former colleagues and enjoy welcoming new members to the group. Zoom meetings have provided a great way for us to connect virtually during this time.
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