In lively and witty prose, Albert Rhodes describes in The French at
Home the allures and foibles of the Gallic race. Early in American
history, before certain prejudices had set in, this diplomat living
in France shows the varied facets of French life, in an age when
traditional ideas still predominated. Using many charming examples,
Rhodes addresses such subjects as chivalry, speech, epigrams,
dress, food - all the things that make the French so distinctive.
Rhodes had many opportunities to observe European life during a
lengthy foreign residence in the consular and diplomatic service;
and the results of his observations are presented here in a form
that could be considered both brilliant and instructive. Rhodes not
only conveys the ordinary activities he observed as a resident in
France, but he also attempts to look deeply into the French
character, into a nation's "personality," to perceive what makes
them better or worse than Americans. The French at Home is a long
neglected book that brings to life the manners and customs of the
French at a time when the codes of gallantry were still in force,
and art and culture were held in high esteem. Americans have always
made rather interesting appraisals of the French. On the one hand,
the citizens of the New World have criticized their European
counterparts for their social instability, their love of monarchy,
their preoccupation with finery, their lack of interest in
industrialism; yet at the same time, they have admired their
elegance, traditions, art, music and great international influence.
Rhodes was well aware of his young nation's uncertain, and at times
unreasonable, assessments of this old European country, and his
theories aboutthe origins of these views make for fascinating
reading. The French at Home is a uniquely rewarding work for both
Americans and Frenchmen who desire to understand the cultural
factors that shape current international public opinions. Albert
Rhodes was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1840. He held many
important government positions, representing America abroad. During
the administration of President Johnson, he was United States
consul at Jerusalem, and under President Grant, he was consul at
Rotterdam and charge d'affaires at the Hague. He was also consul at
Rouen, France, and at Elberfeld, Germany, from 1877 to 1885. Rhodes
frequently contributed to American, French, and British
periodicals, largely on the characteristics of life and people on
the European continent. Among his books are Jerusalem as it Is
(London, 1867); and Monsieur at Home (London, 1886). Paul Dennis
Sporer has edited other important works that describe and examine
uniquely American social and psychological issues, such as An
Incident of Travel, by Arthur Jerome Eddy, End of an Era, by John
Sergeant Wise, and Newer Ideals of Peace by Jane Addams.
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