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A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America Audiobook
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(3.04) - 338 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
“In December 1776, a small boat delivered an old man to France.” So begins a dazzling narrative account of Benjamin Franklin’s French mission, the most exacting—and momentous—eight years of his life. When Franklin embarked, the colonies were without money, munitions, gunpowder, or common cause; like all adolescents, they were to discover that there was a difference between declaring independence and achieving it. To close that gap Franklin was dispatched to Paris, amid great secrecy, across a winter sea thick with enemy cruisers. He was 70 years old, without any diplomatic training, and possessed of the most rudimentary French. He was also among the most famous men in the world. Franklin well understood that he was off on the greatest gamble of his career. But despite minimal direction from Congress he was soon outwitting the British secret service and stirring passion for a republic in an absolute monarchy. In A Great Improvisation Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff offers an utterly fresh and thrilling account of Franklin’s Parisian adventure and of America’s debut on the world stage. Schiff weaves her tale of international intrigue from new and little-known primary sources, working from a host of diplomatic archives, family papers, and intelligence reports. From her pages emerges a particularly human Founding Father, as well as a vivid sense of how fragile, improvisational, and international was our country’ s bid for independence.
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": First Secretary of State, an opportunistic envoy from the land of opportunity, open mindedness is an ability to debate either side of an issue, mental algebra to evaluate options, Ben's son William disagreed with Ben his entire life and was not sorry or ashamed, Ben may have took mercury for boils and lost 3 teeth, Voltaire and common sense/liberty, do not send a letter when bitter--wait till better disposition, beliefs of religion--God created-worship-do good-immortal soul-vice punished & virtues rewarded, a slippery thing is retelling history given Ben's example of the use of Polly Baker character, hereditary nobility is a bain to prosperity, what good is a newborn babe, Americans were not what is he but what can he do, 23 cases of books back in 85 to America, French budget was 1/2 interest at revolution, in the world it is defiance that saves us--for eternity it is faith."
— Don (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Franklin was an ideal choice for the mission, as Stacy Schiff shows in this meticulously researched and judicious account of his eight years as a diplomatic dazzler and charmer in Paris.”
— New York Times -
“Despite the undeniable impact on U.S.-French relations of two tumultuous centuries, A Great Improvisation reminds us that profound cultural differences between the two societies have not changed all that much—and thus remain at the root of their conflicting visions of the world. Plus ça change.”
— Washington Post -
“In sparkling prose, burnished to a high gloss, Stacy Schiff tells the tale of Benjamin Franklin in Paris with piquant humor, outrageous anecdotes worthy of the finest French farce, and a wealth of lapidary observations. Her Paris unfolds as a glittering carnival of spies, rogues, frauds, and flawed reformers, eccentric nobility and perpetually squabbling American diplomats. Towering above all is the protean figure of Franklin, an improbable compound of wit, cunning, hypocrisy, courage, and tireless devotion to his country. C’est magnifique!”
— Ron Chernow, New York Times author of Alexander Hamilton
Awards
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Winner of the 2006 Ambassador Book Award for American Studies
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A 2005 New York Times Book Review Notable Book
A Great Improvisation Listener Reviews
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" Taking a little break from Fiction with this great story of Franklin's time in France "
— Nick, 2/18/2014 -
" A most readable biography of Ben Franklin. "
— Judywhaase, 2/4/2014 -
" A gossipy, fun book to read about America's diplomatic outreach to France during the American Revolution. The author reveals the appealing aspects of Benjamin Franklin's character, but also provides evidence of the contradictions in his life and personality. John Adams doesn't appear to be a very appealing man, but you get a sense of his frustration in playing second fiddle to Franklin. You won't learn much about the battles of the Revolution, but will be treated to the development of the U.S. relationship with France's monarchy, the lifestyle of the French upper class, a bit of the scientifc discoveries of the time (including ballooning) and the immediate ramifications for France and Louis XVI in extending help to the former British colonies in their quest to become independent. "
— Kendra, 2/4/2014 -
" An excellent history of Franklin's time in France securing that country's support for America's independence from Great Britain. Very well written and sophisticated in its portrayal of the complicated personalities involved. "
— David, 1/27/2014 -
" This book contains some interesting tidbits and is undoubtedly well researched, but it's just not at all engaging. I recently read a biography of George Washington by Joseph Ellis, which obviously covers many of the same topics, people, and events, and that one seemed much more interesting. I've decided this one just isn't worth any more of my time... "
— Katie, 1/24/2014 -
" Great man, slow read, but still fascinating. "
— Shelli, 1/21/2014 -
" One of the best-written histories I've ever read. Impressive research that really gives the flavor of the time and place. "
— Lea, 1/18/2014 -
" Dazzling. I am more convinced than ever that the destinies of France and the United States are inextricably linked, and that we all owe not a small debt of gratitude to Mr. Franklin. Schiff's book reveals him at his brilliant, witty, cunning best. "
— Staci, 1/15/2014 -
" Enjoyable, well documented. What high jinx! Ben Franklin cheats at chess. Strange phrasing and punctuation, though. Grammatical but torturous at times. "
— Bird, 1/1/2014 -
" If you have the time to read this in small increments, it's an amazing piece of scholarship. DO NOT try to read it for fun or for speed! Lots of unknown info on some of our founding fathers. "
— Martha, 12/22/2013 -
" Well-researched, but so boring. "
— Jenny, 12/17/2013 -
" This read almost like a novel. Actually, I listened to it as an audiobook. My only critique is that it was abridged, and felt like it as I listened. "
— Meribeth, 12/4/2013 -
" Interesting man and time. "
— Corrine, 11/26/2013 -
" LOVE this book! Extremely well written, and a great look at the differences in opinion and style among the founding fathers. One of the favorites I reach for when wanting a good, factual, bedtime story. "
— Meridythe, 11/25/2013 -
" I think I am done with Stacy Schiff books. I can't seem to get into them the way I do McCullough or others. "
— David, 10/19/2013 -
" I've read a lot of history books but this was a different take. I knew France was involved in the "birth" of America but I didn't know how involved it was. Very informative and easy to read. "
— Sue, 8/25/2013 -
" Been quite a few years since I read this; entertaining and somewhat surprising. "
— Robin, 6/3/2013 -
" Good story. Well written "
— Ron, 5/1/2013 -
" Schiff writes a bit hoity-toity, but I like her approach to Franklin. "
— Chris, 4/23/2013 -
" Good, but could have used a bit more editting. "
— G., 1/12/2013 -
" Franklin seems to have been shafted by history, but this book reasserts his greatness. "
— Darren, 1/4/2013 -
" The more I read about the American Revolution, the more utterly amazing and inexplicable I find it that it actually succeeded. "
— Schmerica, 11/20/2012 -
" Couldn't get very far into this. I love the time period, and really enjoyed Schiff's biography of Cleopatra, but this one just didn't do it for me! "
— Michele, 7/1/2012 -
" Outstanding look at Benjamin Franklin in Paris. But Stacy Schiff's writing lacks clarity in places, which can be confusing. "
— Sandra, 6/22/2012
About Stacy Schiff
Stacy Schiff is the acclaimed author of books that have won numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize, the George Washington Book Prize, the Ambassador Book Award, and the PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography. Several of her books have made the New York Times bestsellers list. She has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Center for Scholars and Writers at the New York Public Library. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, she was named a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres by the French Government and in 2011 was named a Library Lion by the New York Public Library,
About Susan Denaker
Susan Denaker is an actress and Earphones Award–winning narrator. Her extensive theater credits include numerous plays in the West End of London, national tours, many English rep companies, including a season with Alan Ayckbourn’s company in Scarborough. In the US, she has appeared in Our Town and Sweet Bird of Youth at the La Jolla Playhouse and Breaking Legs at the Westport Playhouse.