A brilliant journey following an ambitious, adventurous and talented generation of young Americans to Paris during the 19th century whose knowledge and skills would be a great influence for our future growth back in the States.

It is a rare talent that can tell a tale of unrelated artists and political figures during an obscure period of French history and turn it into a tale that you won't want to put down. Art work you have known will suddenly have an associated personality, and an otherwise un noted era will assume a real feel through the experiences of these characters. The book is time and money well spent

Informative & entertaining book with many memorable real-life characters and full of historical knowledge & insight. A fun read but also educational...EAF

Many great Americans are collected here; many who spent time together starting their crafts and mostly young lives. Beginning in an earlier period than I was familiar with Americans in Paris (1830s) it covers Americans who I don't even associate with France. It covers professional, student, and family lives of people in the foreign service, artists, medical students and just those who sought enrichment in France through the period of the Eiffel tower. You also get a lot of information on who headed the government at different times, war with Germany and the Communards. Very well written.

Wonderful book. So well written and so full of history and bits of biographical history I had never before read in my art history books. These neglected bits have been very helpful in understanding the different artists written about and give useful insights into their thinking and processes. David McCullough has done an immense lot of research for his readers. This work is also helpful in understanding French history and the relationship between the United States and France.

What a delight, reading this book! With the use of an i-pad and the Internet, it was a very rich and meaningful way to explore the paintings and sculptures of the artists, and to see pictures of what they looked like. I felt I was going through a special enrichment program of the artists lives and their art, and getting to feel the excitement, flair, and almost ethereal aura of Paris, as if I were with them, finding my life changed, along with theirs. I found the book immensely entertaining, and I plan on reading it again some day. I have never encountered a book quite like this one. Indeed, just as the artists found themselves pining away and gravitating back to Paris over and over again, I may find myself returning to this book, because somehow, the magic is there, captured in the pages.

Excellent approach and history of a great city revealing aspects of American history and Americans.

One of the most interesting books I have read covering a period of time and a subject that was not well known to me and not generally well covered. McCullough is a master of historical writing. His organization skills and insights are second to none. I have read all his offerings and enjoyed them all, but this was my favorite.