Six months after America declared her independence, Congress dispatched Benjamin Franklin to France to solicit aid and arms for the upcoming fight. He was seventy years old, possessed of the most rudimentary French and without any diplomatic training. But this most remarkable of envoys, who had in previous incarnations been a printer, a postmaster, a fixer, a colonial agent and who had tamed lightning, was also among the most famous men in the world. In his eight Parisian years he worked harder than he ever had in his life ...
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Six months after America declared her independence, Congress dispatched Benjamin Franklin to France to solicit aid and arms for the upcoming fight. He was seventy years old, possessed of the most rudimentary French and without any diplomatic training. But this most remarkable of envoys, who had in previous incarnations been a printer, a postmaster, a fixer, a colonial agent and who had tamed lightning, was also among the most famous men in the world. In his eight Parisian years he worked harder than he ever had in his life, charmed the French, outwitted the British spies, and stirred a passion for a republic in an absolute monarchy. It was largely through his charisma and negotiating skill that France bankrolled the American Revolution. Stacy Schiff tells a tale of international intrigue entirely from primary sources, working from a host of diplomatic archives, family papers, spy reports, and records of the French foreign service. From her pages emerges an intimate portrait of a brilliant man, as well as a sense of the fragility and improvisation of his country's bid for independence.
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Seller's Description:
Fine in fine dust jacket. 512 p. Audience: General/trade. FINE AS NEW 8vo Brown Boards HB with Blue endpapers focusing on the Discovery of America & the success of Benjamin Franklin as the first French Ambassador-he managed to negotiate successful business deals & was instrumental in signing The Treaty Of Paris which ended The War Of Independence. In similar Sarah Morris-design unpriceclipped DJ. 477pp with index & bibliography, ISBN 0747569231
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Seller's Description:
Fine in very good dust jacket. Book in as New condition. Clean bright pages, tight binding. Seems never used. Covers clean and unmarked. DJ shows minor shelf wear. 512 p. Audience: General/trade. Book in as New condition. Clean bright pages, tight binding. Seems never used. Covers clean and unmarked. DJ shows minor shelf wear. First Edition.
