Monday, July 4, 2011

THE GREATER JOURNEY-AMERICANS IN PARIS: BESTSELLER GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY ENDED 
THE GREATER JOURNEY
AMERICANS IN PARIS
BY DAVID McCULLOUGH
 
ABOUT THE BOOK:
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." Elizabeth Blackwell, the first female doctor in America, was one of this intrepid band. Another was Charles Sumner, who enrolled at the Sorbonne because of a burning desire to know more about everything. There he saw black students with the same ambition he had, and when he returned home, he would become the most powerful, unyielding voice for abolition in the U.S. Senate, almost at the cost of his life. 

Two staunch friends, James Fenimore Cooper and Samuel F. B. Morse, worked unrelentingly every day in Paris, Cooper writing and Morse painting what would be his masterpiece. From something he saw in France, Morse would also bring home his momentous idea for the telegraph. 

Pianist Louis Moreau Gottschalk from New Orleans launched his spectacular career performing in Paris at age 15. George P. A. Healy, who had almost no money and little education, took the gamble of a lifetime and with no prospects whatsoever in Paris became one of the most celebrated portrait painters of the day. His subjects included Abraham Lincoln. 

Medical student Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote home of his toil and the exhilaration in "being at the center of things" in what was then the medical capital of the world. From all they learned in Paris, Holmes and his fellow "medicals" were to exert lasting influence on the profession of medicine in the United States. 

Writers Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mark Twain, and Henry James were all "discovering" Paris, marveling at the treasures in the Louvre, or out with the Sunday throngs strolling the city's boulevards and gardens. "At last I have come into a dreamland," wrote Harriet Beecher Stowe, seeking escape from the notoriety Uncle Tom's Cabin had brought her. Almost forgotten today, the heroic American ambassador Elihu Washburne bravely remained at his post through the Franco-Prussian War, the long Siege of Paris and even more atrocious nightmare of the Commune. His vivid account in his diary of the starvation and suffering endured by the people of Paris (drawn on here for the first time) is one readers will never forget. The genius of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the son of an immigrant shoemaker, and of painters Mary Cassatt and John Singer Sargent, three of the greatest American artists ever, would flourish in Paris, inspired by the examples of brilliant French masters, and by Paris itself. 

Nearly all of these Americans, 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.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
David McCullough has been widely acclaimed as a “master of the art of narrative history,” “a matchless writer.” He is twice winner of the Pulitzer Prize, twice winner of the National Book Award, and has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award. 

His books have been praised for their scholarship, their understanding of American life, their “vibrant prose,” and insight into individual character. Mr. McCullough’s most recent book, 1776, the number one New York Times national bestseller in both hardcover and paperback, has been called, “brilliant…powerful,” “a classic,” while Mr. McCullough’s previous work, John Adams, remains one of the most critically acclaimed and widely read American biographies of all time. It is presently in its 82nd printing. 

In the words of the citation accompanying his honorary degree from Yale, “As an historian, he paints with words, giving us pictures of the American people that live, breathe, and above all, confront the fundamental issues of courage, achievement, and moral character.”

Mr. McCullough’s other books include The Johnstown Flood, The Great Bridge, The Path Between the Seas, Mornings on Horseback, Brave Companions, and Truman. His work has been published in ten languages and, in all, more than 9,000,000 copies of his books are in print. As may be said of few writers, none of his books has ever been out of print.

David McCullough is as well twice winner of the prestigious Francis Parkman Prize, and for his work overall he has been honored by the National Book Foundation Distinguished Contribution to American Letters Award and the National Humanities Medal. He has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, as well as the American Academy of Arts and Letters and has received more than forty honorary degrees.

In a crowded, productive career, he has been an editor, essayist, teacher, lecturer, and familiar presence on public television—as host of Smithsonian World, The American Experience, and narrator of numerous documentaries including The Civil War. His is also the narrator’s voice in the movie Seabiscuit.

John Adams, the seven-part mini-series on HBO, produced by Tom Hanks and starring Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney, was one of the most acclaimed and talked about television events of 2008. 

A gifted speaker, Mr. McCullough has lectured in all parts of the country and abroad, as well as at the White House. He is also one of the few private citizens to speak before a joint session of Congress.

Born in Pittsburgh, Mr. McCullough was educated there and at Yale, where he was graduated with honors in English literature. He is an avid reader, traveler, and has enjoyed a lifelong interest in art and architecture. He is as well a devoted painter. Mr. McCullough and his wife Rosalee Barnes McCullough have five children and eighteen grandchildren.
GIVEAWAY 
I HAVE ONE COPY OF THIS  CURRENT
BEST SELLER BY DAVID McCOLLOUGH, 
THE GREATER JOURNEY  TO GIVE
AWAY TO ONE LUCKY WINNER
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!


HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOVE THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THE GREATER JOURNEY: AMERICANS IN PARIS

+1 MORE ENTRY:
BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK THAT I CAN FOLLOW

+1 MORE ENTRY: VISIT DAVID McCOLLOUGH'S WEBSITE HERE AND THEN COMMENT ON SOMETHING INTERESTING TO YOU

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE OTHER CURRENT GIVEAWAY OF MINE THAT YOU HAVE ENTERED. YOU MAY COMMENT ON AS MANY AS YOU ENTERED THAT ARE STILL GOING ON BUT YOU MUST DO IT SEPARATELY
 
GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, JULY 19
GOOD LUCK!
 

132 comments:

Anonymous said...

I would love to read this book. I enjoyed 1776 by McCullough so much. It's hard to pick only one interesting fact from what is written on the other page. I never knew Paris, at that time, was the medical center of the world. Didn't know Harriet Beecher Stowe went there to get away from the "maddening crowd." I am aware of famous American blacks going to Paris for a much greater feeling of freedom. For example, there is James Baldwin, Josephine Baker, etc. Didn't know Morse liked to paint too.

I'm in Paris at the moment. Reading Murder On The Eiffel Tower by Claude Izner. Mystery is not great. The setting is fantastic. I really feel like it's 1900, and I'm in Paris.

Anonymous said...

P.T. Barnum brought Tom Thumb to Paris. Eiffel Tower opened March 31, 1889.

Anonymous said...

I have entered to win Pie Town by Lynne Hinton.

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I have entered to win The Art of Saying Goodbye.

Anonymous said...

I entered, I think, to win Emilie Richard's book.

debbie said...

I find it interesting how something in Paris influenced all these people. I would love to read this book.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

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debbie said...

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holdenj said...

McCullough always writes on such interesting and intriguing subjects. This seems to fit the bill. Thanks!
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holdenj said...

I think it's amazing and wonderful that McCullough has won the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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lag123 said...

I did not realize that Paris had such influence on so many of our great people. I would love to know more.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/lag32583/status/87857224935940096


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lag123 said...

I learned that Louis Moreau Gottschalk, was a pianist from New Orleans who debuted in Paris at fifteen and was proclaimed the greatest pianist of the age by Chopin.

lag123 said...

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lag123 said...

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Sayeth said...

I've loved McCullough's other books, particularly John Adams. I had no idea that Cooper and Morse were friends. I'd love to know more about turn-of-the-century Paris.

mrsethjones (at) Yahoo (dot) com

dogwood said...

My daughter is itching to go to Paris. I would love to share this book and the stories of how the city influenced so many of these lives.

Carol N Wong said...

I would love to read this book. I want to know more of the story of Americans who went to Paris in the 19the Century and ended up changing America because of it. As David McCullough says, 'History is so much more than just politicans and soldiers". This should be a very fascinating book.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

My Twitter name is Carolee888 and I tweeted:

http://t.co/l9TKRpf

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Carol N Wong said...

I love the timeline of the connections between the Americans and the French on the site. I would like to know more about Mary Cassatt's journey to Paris since she is one of my favorite painters.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Carol N Wong said...

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Carol N Wong said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Carol N Wong said...

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Anonymous said...

I met David McCullough several years ago at a History teacher's conference in Boston. He was the keynote speaker. He is a very kind man and appericaies taechers - his son is a teacher.

Thanks for the giveaway
jgoffice(at)cox(dot)net
I wonder if this book will give him a 3rd Pulitzer?

Anonymous said...

I commented on How to Eat a Small Country giveaway
jgoffice(at)cox(dot)net

Anonymous said...

Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. It sounds really interesting. Tore923@aol.com

Reading said...

I always find it interesting when Americans are in antoher country.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Becky said...

The phrase "not all Americans went West" grabbd me. I love reading about biographies. This one sounds intriguing.

Becky said...

I entered the Sunset Bridge giveaway. Many thanks!

Sandra K321 said...

McCullough is such a great writer; he makes history interesting to read. I didn't realize so many of the people he mentioned, like Samuel Morse, went to France to study or live.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

Sandra K321 said...

Just looked at his website's list of other books. I didn't realize he had written a book about Theodore Roosevelt.
seknobloch(at)gmail(dot)com

Colleen Turner said...

Historical fiction and nonfiction are my all time favorite genres. I have heard such wonderful things about David McCullough's work but have never actually sat down and read one of his books. This looks like a great place to start!
Thanks,
candc320@gmail.com

Colleen Turner said...

I learned from David McCullough's website that he was born in Pittsburgh, was educated at Yale and has worked as a teacher, editor, essayist, and much more as well as worked as host on public television and was the narrative voice on the movie Seabiscuit. This is obviously a man with great love for history and one that isn't afraid to try multiple facets of life and learning!
candc320@gmail.com

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Colleen Turner said...

I am going RIGHT NOW to enter the Harry Potter giveaway!
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Linda Kish said...

I'm not very good on history but this sounds fascinating as I know of all of these people and their backgrounds but not their journeys.

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Linda Kish said...

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Ruth said...

Right away I found myself intrigued. I recognize the author's name, but I have never read anything by him. However, I love history, and the history and the setting of the story (Paris) make me want to read this book!
ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com

Ruth said...

I had not realized the McCullough had been writing for so long and had won so many awards. No wonder I was familiar with his name!
ruthaw_1974@yahoo.com

Ruth said...

tweeted the giveaway:
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