A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America

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A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America

by Stacy Schiff (Goodreads Author)

3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 · rating details · 318 ratings · 55 reviews

In this dazzling work of history, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author follows Benjamin Franklin to France for the crowning achievement of his career

In December of 1776 a small boat delivered an old man to France." So begins an enthralling narrative account of how Benjamin Franklin-seventy years old, without any diplomatic training, and possessed of the most rudimentary French-

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Paperback, 528 pages

Published January 10th 2006 by Holt Paperbacks (first published 2005)

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New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2005

56th out of 100 books — 38 voters

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24th out of 80 books — 15 voters

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Oct 13, 2011 ***Dave Hill rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction, audiobook

This book tells the tale of Benjamin Franklin’s mission to France after the Declaration of Independence is signed, throughout the Revolution, and beyond. It’s an interesting subject matter, but a mixed bag as a book.

Franklin’s mission was hobbled the entire time by the combination of fierce infighting between different American factions, Colonial ambivalence as to how close we should actually get to France, trans-Atlantic communication lags (particularly during wartime), Congressional disarray a...more This book tells the tale of Benjamin Franklin’s mission to France after the Declaration of Independence is signed, throughout the Revolution, and beyond. It’s an interesting subject matter, but a mixed bag as a book.

Franklin’s mission was hobbled the entire time by the combination of fierce infighting between different American factions, Colonial ambivalence as to how close we should actually get to France, trans-Atlantic communication lags (particularly during wartime), Congressional disarray and inexperience and parsimony, and France’s separate interests (along with its Bourbon ally, Spain) against England that made it less of an ally than a co-belligerent. Franklin’s health, his inclination more toward brilliant synthesis than management details, and his not-infrequent unwillingness to confront when needed or back down when needed, also caused problems.

On the plus side, though, was that very intellect, coupled Franklin’s incredible charm, and an unexpected but delightful adulation Franklin met in France (which treated him as a Socrates from the Frontier, though that fan following further alienated those Americans already ill-disposed to Franklin and/or France). Franklin both enjoyed that lionization and exploited it; arguably, it was the only asset that the American mission had at times, and made up for the prickliness and rough edges of the other diplomats-in-training that the US sent there, including Arthur Lee and John Adams. The French, though having their own ambitions, were definitely interested in anything that would cause England problems. And Franklin, though untrained as a diplomat (which came back to bite him more than once), managed to play that interest into money and supplies (and, eventually, troops and ships) that the Colonies desperately needed — though, at times, the factionalism and greed in those about Franklin, as well as his own inexperience and dislike for administrative detail, led to both money and material languishing on French docks.

Franklin never received, in his lifetime, full credit for what he’d done in France, criticized heavily in Congress by his enemies as decadent, dissolute, co-opted, or just plain malicious — which rivals included Lee and Adams. While the French treated his departure from France as a grand tragedy, and his death as an occasion for apotheosis, his return to the US met with very little official notice, his efforts and expenses went unrewarded, and his death was treated as diffidently by Congress (if not the populace) as was possible.

One final irony, when all is said and done, is that Franklin’s mission to France — resulting in a major war effort, major loans, and outright gifts, little of which was ever paid back by the US — ended up bankrupting that country. That, in turn, required Louis XVI to call the French legislature, which started the ball rolling toward the bloody French Revolution, for whom Franklin was an absent founding saint (and of which Franklin would have been horrified).

Schiff tells this story in detail (abridged over eight discs), but the book has problems, the biggest of which is the presentation. Schiff is breathless. Every sentence practically screams for an exclamation point, cranked up to 11 whether it needs to be or not. Every paragraph drips with absolutes and hyperbole, and is gaily festooned with metaphor and simile. Rather than be presented with the facts, we are meant to be incessantly transported by them.

This effect is aided and abetted, though not caused, by the dramatic reading of Jason Culp, who comes across as an enthusiastic DJ to Schiff’s prose, introducing Franklin’s life like it was the next item in the Top Ten Countdown. Culp’s reading is clear but rapid (though with a lack of gaps between some sentences that sounds like a recording artifact), and his use of accents and voices for the major players is only occasionally distracting.

Schiff’s book also comes across in an odd stream-of-consciousness fashion — not quite chronological, but also not thematic. Things happen, players come and go, events occur, Franklin acts or reacts. There’s little that draws the narrative together, minimal analysis or relationship from one part of the tale to the other, aside from the introduction and conclusion. As a result, the final picture of Franklin, the other cast, and the events themselves, feels muddied and indistinct. In some ways, that probably echoes how the mission itself went, but as a retelling it left me somewhat pleased as I popped the last disc in.

I’d give this book a B-, and the audio presentation of it the same.(less)

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Oct 19, 2009 Kelly rated it 2 of 5 stars

A history book on the time Ben Franklin was in Paris waiting out the French to jump in and back America for our Independence.

Unfortunately seven years of excruciatingly oblique politics does not make for a major pleasure of a read. It seems politics is eternal, you never know what is ever the truth, what of the 1,000 motivations are going to lead, or are ever sure what is behind what is going on; past, present, or future.

I am also not sure that you can push history into being a novel. The even...more A history book on the time Ben Franklin was in Paris waiting out the French to jump in and back America for our Independence.

Unfortunately seven years of excruciatingly oblique politics does not make for a major pleasure of a read. It seems politics is eternal, you never know what is ever the truth, what of the 1,000 motivations are going to lead, or are ever sure what is behind what is going on; past, present, or future.

I am also not sure that you can push history into being a novel. The events may write themselves but they do not edit themselves unfortunately.

The history of the time itself is interesting, the contemporaries that are in France at the same time as Franklin- Marie Antoinette, Jefferson, Voltaire. Its also nice to just have a picture of the times, to read about the vogue of hot air balloons, the neighborhood, now Passy, then just a rural area with giant country estates.

I can see why Schiff though this would be a good book to write. There are so many angles of self-interests, and things that hinge on timing. Unfortunately it left me with a feeling of how boring politics is, how motivations of self-interest, a whole gaggle of people playing games for their own self-interest, is pretty bleak and boring ground indeed. It just kind of boils down into the same gray stew.

Although if you’re a cynic you may find an unending hall of mirrors, that ends in your (America's) favor, is satisfying. And too if you are a cynic you will never get over the thrill that it was the King of France and Marie Antoinette who bankrupted their country by helping us, by funding our revolution, and brought a revolution onto themselves. They lost their aristocracy and their heads by helping us to our liberty. That’s the kind of irony that would make a cynic dance. They were blamed for being too lushly indulgent with themselves; Marie Antoinette was blamed, when it was with America really that they were too lush. And we did not pay them back. Can anyone say default credit swap options.....

And of course no one is sure if Ben Franklin is a scoundrel or a genius.

Schiff is at times a little bit too punctilious in a sotto voce snobbish sort of way. Like any backdoor stuff that is going on 'closest to the salt' makes it of interest. She comes off as at times an Upper East Side lady who believes one is privileged to get one small honest nod towards any tidbit of the real workings of power. I, unlike Schiff, do not find 'power' scintillation.

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Dec 23, 2012 Don Weidinger rated it 5 of 5 stars

: 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 &...more

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Feb 05, 2009 Bookmarks Magazine added it · review of another edition

Schiff, the Pulitzer-Prize winning author of V_

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Aug 29, 2010 Kendra rated it 3 of 5 stars

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. r...more

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Dec 15, 2008 Sue rated it 3 of 5 stars

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.

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Oct 30, 2010 Andrew Bolender rated it 4 of 5 stars

In this book, Stacy Schiff covers the trip Benjamin Franklin took to France in order to help America gain its independence from Great Britain. The story is interesting in itself, and needs little for its improvement. However, Schiff is able to use analysis to describe not only what Franklin is doing, but what he is thinking while it is being done. It is an opportunity to meet the man who was so revered in colonial America. As a writer, I was able to learn from Schiff that it is not so much what...more

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May 09, 2013 Eddy Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arts-and-historical

In December of 1776 a small boat delivered an old man to France." So begins an enthralling narrative account of how Benjamin Franklin-seventy years old, without any diplomatic training, and possessed of the most rudimentary French-convinced France, an absolute monarchy, to underwrite America's experiment in democracy.

When Franklin stepped onto French soil, he well understood he was embarking on the greatest gamble of his career. By virtue of fame, charisma, and ingenuity, Franklin outmaneuvered...more

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Jan 08, 2012 Brian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: american-history-revolution

A Great Improvisation provides a focus on the time Benjamin Franklin spent as the American envoy to France negotiating treaties with all the European powers and providing American representation in Versailles. From the intrigues of the court, to the social life of Paris, to the intricate negotiations with not only France but peace with Great Britain and commercial treaties with almost everyother power in Europe. The drawback to this book is the heavy prose that drags on with high amounts of deta...more

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Oct 23, 2011 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

It took me a long time to get through this because it was such a fascinating book full of historical facts that the author carefully researched, I didn't want to miss a thing! It's great if you're into American history and want to know what was going on with the American delegates (Franklin, John Jay, John Adams, etc) who were in France trying to get assistance from the French king (Louis XVI) for the American Revolution, while pretending to simply be there on personal vacations (after all, Fran...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Priscilla Kimboko rated it 5 of 5 stars

So interesting to read this biography of Benjamin Franklin -wo became our 'ambassador' to the court of France when he was in his 70's. He had an incredible talent for persuasion in unusual ways, and was greatly loved by the French as one of the world's greatest scientists. Not so loved by the younger generation of political heirs, however, - John Adams in particular could not tolerate his indirect, improvisational tactics.

Truly a favorite biography. And very enlightening, too.

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Jan 08, 2011 Gloriavirtutisumbra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction-old-and-new, mappemondes

This is a phenomenal book, covering a part of American history that is downright fascinating and at the same time embarrassing. I am disheartened to know that politics has been as irresponsible from the very beginning as it ever has been. But if nothing else, I am very glad Ben Franklin was who he was, when he was, and where he was. I feel incredibly indebted to the old rascal, and wish I were a little more like him in all the best ways. He wasn't perfect, but he was exactly what was needed.

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Jan 07, 2009 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyable read about Franklin's peace treaty work with the French.
It's not a rosy picture read, Franklin is definitely presented warts and all, but he was apparently the best man for the job, by a large margin.
John Adams is usually my favorite founding father, but he shows to bad advantage as a diplomat to a Monarchy. :)
It's amazing that the French to give us as much support as they did.

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Mar 24, 2010 Chris rated it 1 of 5 stars

Benjamin Franklin seems like an interesting enough man. The same cannot be said for this book.

I gave it one full chapter, and found myself preferring to browse through trite news articles at 3-point font on my Blackberry at 2G speeds. The style is written very matter-of-fact. This happened... then this... then this, but I'll use a big word to make it seem more interesting.

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Aug 13, 2012 Joe rated it 4 of 5 stars

Schiff has written a tome on the life of Franklin in Paris during and after the US Revolution. Much more information than I needed but it was very worthwhile. I read it as a "audiobook" but checked out the hardcover from the library to see the picture layouts.

I am glad that I read it. I learned a lot. The role of the French in the US Revolution is very much understated. The French only got an empty treasury, which was another straw leading to their revolution, in return.

I would recommend it as...more

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Dec 07, 2010 Staci rated it 4 of 5 stars

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.

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Mar 16, 2011 Meridythe Kelley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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.

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Jul 15, 2012 Martha rated it 4 of 5 stars

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.

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Dec 20, 2007 Katy rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: franklin-philes & founding father fans.

An account of Franklins stay in Paris during and after the Revolutionary War. It is common knowledge that he was there, that he worked for American interests with the French court - but the extent of his influence and how much his actions actually effected the outcome of the war is extraordinary. Franklin himself comes alive in this account, and my thanks to Schiff for keeping him human (and not some infallible hero). Franklin's petulance, love of luxury and 'the good life', his indecision and h...more

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Oct 05, 2011 Leigh added it

Shelves: did-not-finish

Gave it a valiant effort and read almost 200 pages, but finally done in by her style. Too many sentences that I had to read more than once and still didn't grasp her meaning.

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Oct 01, 2011 Joan added it · review of another edition Recommends it for: American history buffs. Or maybe French history buffs.

Shelves: books-i-couldn-t-finish, history, adult-books

This will be a great read. Schiff is a superb writer!

Well, let me correct that. This was NOT a great read! I couldn't finish it. However, the problem was the subject, not the writer. I still think Schiff is a marvelous writer. I found interesting and clever turns of phrases throughout the book. I just couldn't find the endless negotiations with the French and the endless bickering among the Americans to be of interest. I'll likely give other books by Schiff a try but only on subjects I find inte...more

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Aug 07, 2012 Jan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Good biography of Franklin's years in France. Detailed information of his relationships with French benefactors, friends and fans. Often funny, and staunchly supportive of Franklin's many gifts as a diplomat. Does not overlook or minimalize Franklin's slights and occassional cruelty to his wife and daughter, while he delighted and enjoyed the company of many female friends. Explores his complex relationship with his Tory illegitimate son, adored illegitimate grandson, and tolerated grandson, who...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Ratforce added it

Shelves: history

Like Team of Rivals, this critically acclaimed book takes a little understood moment in history and turns it into a compelling and enlightening drama.

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Oct 12, 2012 Meribeth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, biography, nonfiction

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.

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Feb 02, 2010 David rated it 5 of 5 stars

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.

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Feb 06, 2012 Robin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Been quite a few years since I read this; entertaining and somewhat surprising.

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Dec 12, 2012 Rosina Barker rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: history

Superb - critical piece of American Revolution -

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Apr 30, 2012 Judywhaase rated it 5 of 5 stars

A most readable biography of Ben Franklin.

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Mar 15, 2009 donna rated it 4 of 5 stars

I learned to appreciate Franklin as more of a *real* person from this and realize that the Founding Fathers were not always a cohesive whole. The author presented some thoughts that I hadn't thought of before but made complete sense. It was also refreshing to see a little bit of the French side of being America's allies, back when the French seemed to care about those that were not French.

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Feb 04, 2012 Doris A. marked it as to-read · review of another edition

I heard Stacy Schiff at the 2011 New Yorker Festival and what I heard (on top of what Jeannette said about "Cleopatra") made me vow to read everything she'd written. Her sleuthing to learn never-known facts about people like Vera (wife of Nabakov) or Franklin in France made me salivate with anticipation. Since this one scored the most stars in Goodreads, I think I'll start here.

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About Stacy Schiff

Stacy Schiff is the author of Véra (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov), winner of the Pulitzer Prize; Saint-Exupéry, a Pulitzer Prize finalist; and A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America, winner of the George Washington Book Prize, the Ambassador Award in American Studies, and the Gilbert Chinard Prize of the Institut Français d'Amérique. All three were New York Times Notable Books;...more

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