Georges Clemenceau (1841–1929)

This collection of newspaper dispatches written by a young Georges Clemenceau while living in America in the turbulent years after the end of the Civil War is fascinating for several reasons. First, it's a contemporary history of this period; as I read through it I learned tons of details about the political fights involving Radical Republicans, Andrew Johnson, Reconstruction, prohibition, debt, trade and more. I knew the broad strokes about the period, but reading week-by-week dispatches learned a lot.

Second, it was interesting insight into its author, who would very soon become a major political figure in France, culminating in his famous wartime premiership.

Third, you get not only daily coverage of events, but also daily coverage from the point of view of a foreigner — a foreigner who is knowledgable and sympathetic to one side, to be sure, but an outsider perspective that shows what interested educated, liberal French audiences in the mid-19th Century.

On top of all this, the events of this period have a special relevance from the perspective of 2020: a brash, combative populist president who gets impeached and acquitted, a fiercely partisan political environment, mass politics, partisan press hurling around conspiratorial accusations — every page had a quote of some sort I wanted to write down and share.

Perhaps a bit over-specific for a casual reader, but for someone interested in the period, this is a great and brisk read (if you can find a copy).… (plus d'informations)