With Americans of past and present days J J 18551932 Jusserand Books
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With Americans of past and present days J J 18551932 Jusserand Books
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With Americans of past and present days J J 18551932 Jusserand Books Reviews
Jean Jules Jusserand (1855 - 1932) was a diplomat, and an author. He was the French ambassador to the United States from 1902 to 1925, and during that time he wrote and published "With Americans of Past and Present Days" (1916) which was the winner of the first Pulitzer Prize in History in 1917. The work was a look at the relations between the United States and France up to that point in time.
"With Americans of Past and Present Days" is an unusual work in several ways. Instead of providing a standard complete history of the relationship between the two countries, it is a collection of five essays followed by two speeches, with the majority of the text dealing with the period around the birth of the United States.
The first, and longest, essay is titled "Rochambeau and the French in America", and covers the relationship between Rochambeau and Washington, as well as the attitudes of the French towards the Americans, and the English, and their motives for helping the United States achieve its independence. It also covers to some extent the biography of Rochambeau after the revolution was over.
The second essay is titled "Major L'Enfant and the Federal City" and it covers the creation of Washington D.C. and the significant contribution of Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant. Interestingly enough, though not all of the Major's ideas were implemented initially and the Major was dismissed before the work was completed, he was vindicated when the Park Commission and the Senate committee issued reports on the city in 1902, they wrote "The original plan of the city of Washington having stood the test of a century, has met universal approval. The departures from that plan are to be regretted, and wherever possible, remedied."
The third essay is titled "Washington and the French", and covers how Washington's perception of our French allies changed from some initial suspicion, to one of respect, and lasting friendships with the French officers who served under him. Washington never had a chance to visit France, but his record of correspondence is quite clear. One of the most interesting areas was where Washington wrote about the revolution in France
"The Revolution which has been effected in France is of so wonderful a nature that the mind can hardly realize the fact...but I fear, though it has gone triumphantly through the first paroxysm, it is not the last it has to encounter before matters are finally settled. In a word, the revolution is of too great a magnitude to be effected in so short a space, and with the loss of so little blood."
Washington was amazingly prescient in his statement, as indeed the initial relatively peaceful revolution would soon turn to a period of terror.
The next essay is simply titled "Abraham Lincoln", and it covers the attitudes of the French towards the great man. Just as the French took the cause of liberty to heart during our revolution, they greatly admired Lincoln for his stance against slavery. Jusserand's discussion of the reaction of the French to Lincoln's death really puts into perspective how much they thought of him.
The last of the essays is the shortest of all, and it is titled "The Franklin Medal" and it discusses the minting of a special commemorative medal on the second centennial of the birth of Benjamin Franklin as a gift to be given to France. The French, of course, were enamored with Franklin and Franklin likewise was a strong supporter of the French. With the earthquake destroying San Francisco at around the same time, the French in return minted a special medal depicting a city rising from the ruins which was given to the mayor in 1909.
The first of the two addresses is about Horace Howard Furness, who was a philosopher and fellow lover of Shakespeare and who had a high regard for the French translations and commentary of his work. This work seems to be rather out of place in this collection, as it doesn't really relate to history. However, if one looks deeper, they will realize that in fact this entire book is much more about perspectives and relationships between people and between the countries then it is about historical events. In this case, it is about a bond which Jusserand formed with Furness through their common love for Shakespeare.
Given the period in which this book was written, it should come as no surprise that the final address is about war, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that it is about peace. Though Jusserand touches on the great conflict of the day, the address is much more about what he sees as the world moving away from wars and towards peace. Obviously, one could point out many ways in which his perception was way off, but in fact the nature of war has indeed changed quite a bit.
In the first essay in this book, Jusserand describes how the French forbid their navy to interfere with Captain Cook's exploration in the time of the Revolutionary War. Can one ever imagine an enemy in this day and age doing such a thing? Another point which is driven home in the essay on Rochambeau is how important it was to be perceived as treating one's prisoners well, and once again that no longer appears to be of primary importance. So while Jusserand may not have been correct in seeing war becoming less significant, his perception that its nature had changed would seem to have been proved out by the two World Wars, as well as the conflicts during the Cold War.
Overall this is an interesting work of history. It lacks the objectivity that so many look for in a historical text, as Jusserand is very much promoting the strength of the relationship between the two countries. Significant events, such as the Louisiana Purchase are barely mentioned at all, and large gaps exist between what he covers. His choice of subjects for his essays and addresses vary quite a bit as well. The first three essays are very strong pieces, followed by the weaker essay on Lincoln and then the two weakest pieces of the book. Despite these flaws, I am going to give it four stars as it will give the reader a different perspective on the history between the two countries. You may wish to find a copy of "Brothers in Arms" which was an updated edition of this book released in 1919, and which included an additional chapter "On Lafayette's Birthday".
Its a factual book that's worth the read
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