The Wisdom of the Flock: Franklin and Mesmer in Paris
By Steve M. Gnatz
A WORLD OF ENLIGHTENMENT, REVOLUTION, AND INTRIGUE
1776: Benjamin Franklin sails to Paris, carrying a copy of
the Declaration of Independence, freshly signed. His charge: gain the support
of France for the unfolding American Revolution. Yet Paris is a city of
distractions. Ben’s lover, Marianne Davies, will soon arrive, and he yearns to
rekindle his affair with the beautiful musician.
Dr. Franz Mesmer has plans for Marianne too. He has taken Parisian nobility by
storm with his discovery of magnétisme animale, a mysterious force claimed to
heal the sick. Marianne’s ability to channel Mesmer’s phenomena is key to his success.
A skeptical King Louis XVI appoints Ben to head a commission investigating the astonishing magnétisme animale. By nature, Ben requires proof. Can he scientifically prove that it does not exist? Mesmer will stop at nothing to protect his profitable claim.
The Wisdom of The Flock explores the conflict between science and mysticism in a time rife with revolution, love, spies, and passion.
Benjamin (Ben) Franklin is in Paris on important matters – America needs to gain the support of France before Britain can, if they want a chance at winning the American Revolution, and Ben was sent to help get such support. Unfortunately, Paris is a very busy city, and Ben frequently gets distracted by gatherings, women and friendships. In particular, he learns of a man called Dr. Mesmer, who claims to be able to heal the sick with a newly discovered element but refuses to tell anyone about this secret. Ben becomes almost obsessed with finding out the truth behind this new element, and whether Mesmer is telling the truth or not.
While this book was incredibly interesting, at times I found my attention waning, as I frequently found myself confused about who was who, and much of this novel is simply the day-to-day life of Ben in Paris, attending parties and meeting friends. Nevertheless, I was intrigued by the story, and I was incredibly reluctant to put the book down, as I was almost as desperate to know about Mesmer’s magnétisme animale as Ben was.
All in all, this book was interesting and informational, and I would certainly recommend it if you are a fan of, or looking to find out more, about the characters and the era.
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Steve Gnatz
Steve Gnatz is a writer, physician, bicyclist, photographer, traveler, and aspiring ukulele player. The son of a history professor and a nurse, it seems that both medicine and history are in his blood. Writing historical fiction came naturally. An undergraduate degree in biology was complemented by a minor in classics. After completing medical school, he embarked on an academic medical career specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. There was little time for writing during those years, other than research papers and a technical primer on electromyography. Now retired from the practice of medicine, he devotes himself to the craft of fiction. The history of science is of particular interest, but also the dynamics of human relationships. People want to be good scientists, but sometimes human nature gets in the way. That makes for interesting stories. When not writing or traveling, he enjoys restoring Italian racing bicycles at home in Chicago with his wife and daughters.
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Thank you for such a lovely review and for hosting today's tour stop!!
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