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The Wisdom of the Flock: Franklin and Mesmer in Paris
A WORLD OF ENLIGHTENMENT, REVOLUTION, AND INTRIGUE 1776: Benjamin Franklin sails to Paris, carrying a copy of the Declaration of Independence, freshly signed. His 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. First Place Gold Medal Evvy Winner for Historical Fiction from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association
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. First Place Gold Medal Evvy Winner for Historical Fiction from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association
- GenresNonfictionHistory
561 pages, Paperback
Published December 8, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 25, 2021
The Wisdom of the Flock is a fictional exploration of the intersection of science and mysticism towards the end of the Enlightenment, as perceived by Benjamin Franklin. It is full of interesting details about Franklin’s life, late 18th century Paris and the scientific knowledge and debates of the time. It may even make you re-think your opinions about the limits of science and medicine today. I recommend it to anyone looking for an interesting read.
October 19, 2021
If you’re looking for a novel about Franklin’s accomplishments in persuading Louis XVI to help America during the Revolution, this isn’t the one. THE WISDOM OF THE FLOCK is predominately about his love life and, secondarily, his rivalry with Franz Anton Mesmer, both professionally and personally. Mesmer’s claim to cure melancholia and other diverse ailments by harnessing a person’s vital fluids—his magnétisme animale—was contradictory to Franklin’s view of science. It didn’t help that women, including Ben’s lover Marianne—found Mesmer irresistible. How a 70-plus year-old man with gout could be so amorous is a question best left to the novelists, but according to this book Franklin was healthy enough to swim in the Seine on a regular basis. His relationship with the equally elderly Madame Helvétius has been well documented, though the biography I once read depicted it as flirtatious and platonic. Not here!
Ben nearly jumped out of the water. He yelled. Whatever he’d collided with yelled too. His heart was racing. He quickly rubbed the water from his eyes, prepared to defend himself. Instead, Ben found himself face-to-face with a woman. A woman in the middle of the Seine. A woman swimming in the middle of the Seine. A woman swimming nude in the middle of the Seine. Ben was in shock.
Of course, shock turned into fascination then much more. Although Franklin was enamored enough with Madame Helvétius to even propose marriage, that didn’t stop him from sleeping with Marianne as well. He was quite busy in his personal life! The events connected with his assignment in Paris are related in the background, but for the most part don’t interfere with Franklin’s social life. We see the upper echelon of pre-French Revolution society in its hedonistic glory—and we meet some interesting contemporaries along the way. It's quite an eye-opener.
Ben nearly jumped out of the water. He yelled. Whatever he’d collided with yelled too. His heart was racing. He quickly rubbed the water from his eyes, prepared to defend himself. Instead, Ben found himself face-to-face with a woman. A woman in the middle of the Seine. A woman swimming in the middle of the Seine. A woman swimming nude in the middle of the Seine. Ben was in shock.
Of course, shock turned into fascination then much more. Although Franklin was enamored enough with Madame Helvétius to even propose marriage, that didn’t stop him from sleeping with Marianne as well. He was quite busy in his personal life! The events connected with his assignment in Paris are related in the background, but for the most part don’t interfere with Franklin’s social life. We see the upper echelon of pre-French Revolution society in its hedonistic glory—and we meet some interesting contemporaries along the way. It's quite an eye-opener.
September 10, 2021
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.
*I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideraiton.
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.
*I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideraiton.
January 24, 2021
The Wisdom of the Flock was a fantastic book! The writer grabbed my attention right away and held it through the duration of the book. At the end of the book I was looking forward to the sequel!! The characters were very relatable. I enjoyed being able to learn about Ben Franklin and Franz Mesmer as they interacted with the other characters the author brought to life. The scenes and the characters were portrayed in a way that took me to the center of the action. I hope Mr. Gnatz, that you’ll write more books!
September 9, 2021
Whenever I agree to read a book about a subject or time period that I am not incredibly familiar with, I rely on the author to both teach and entertain me, to inform me about the events while capturing my interest. This book is indeed educational, and when I sat down to read it, I was incredibly excited to learn more about both Benjamin Franklin and Franz Mesmer.
There is a common ground between both Franklin and Mesmer, and that is Marianne Davies. Marianne had an affair with Ben some years before the start of the book, and Mesmer has discovered what he calls magnétisme animale, which can heal the unwell. Marianne, suffering from frequent bouts of melancholia, turns to Mesmer when it seems his new discovery may give her a chance at escaping the illness that plagues her.
What I really liked about this book was learning about the scepticism many had about scientific discoveries, and how much religion directly opposed science. With Franklin trying to learn about, and harness, electricity, there are those who would say that such things are controlled by God, and, indeed, that things such as medicine cannot be trusted, and instead, faith should be the thing to heal someone. With a modern-day outlook on such things, it is easy to imagine how frustrating it was for scientists to try and prove their findings to people who would simply turn and look the other way.
Mesmer’s methods of healing were incredibly interesting to read about. Even after doing some research, I do not fully understand the practice, although the conclusion I have come to is that it is very similar (if not another name for) hypnotism. The ways that Marianne experience this gave an insight into why those who had experienced it believed and almost worshipped the practice, while others were sceptical and couldn’t trust that there were no ill intents.
I know very little about Benjamin Franklin, and I do not recall ever having learnt anything about Franz Mesmer, so this book was something that I was looking forward to. I wanted to know more about these people and how their paths crossed. What I was not expecting, not knowing the history, was that Benjamin Franklin is in his 70s during this book. There were several scenes that I did not enjoy, in particular the sexual relations that Franklin pursues, especially with women much younger than him. Marianne is only 32, and it bothered me immensely when reading about their intimate relationship.
This book is very long, and although it is also the kind of book wherein the process of reading it is seemingly very quick, it took me a very long time to finish and I think that was because I had a hard time connecting with the characters. That being said, if you are interested about the subjects of this book, you should definitely grab a copy, as the author clearly knows the history well and the explanations are both in-depth and easy to understand at the same time.
*I recieved a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
There is a common ground between both Franklin and Mesmer, and that is Marianne Davies. Marianne had an affair with Ben some years before the start of the book, and Mesmer has discovered what he calls magnétisme animale, which can heal the unwell. Marianne, suffering from frequent bouts of melancholia, turns to Mesmer when it seems his new discovery may give her a chance at escaping the illness that plagues her.
What I really liked about this book was learning about the scepticism many had about scientific discoveries, and how much religion directly opposed science. With Franklin trying to learn about, and harness, electricity, there are those who would say that such things are controlled by God, and, indeed, that things such as medicine cannot be trusted, and instead, faith should be the thing to heal someone. With a modern-day outlook on such things, it is easy to imagine how frustrating it was for scientists to try and prove their findings to people who would simply turn and look the other way.
Mesmer’s methods of healing were incredibly interesting to read about. Even after doing some research, I do not fully understand the practice, although the conclusion I have come to is that it is very similar (if not another name for) hypnotism. The ways that Marianne experience this gave an insight into why those who had experienced it believed and almost worshipped the practice, while others were sceptical and couldn’t trust that there were no ill intents.
I know very little about Benjamin Franklin, and I do not recall ever having learnt anything about Franz Mesmer, so this book was something that I was looking forward to. I wanted to know more about these people and how their paths crossed. What I was not expecting, not knowing the history, was that Benjamin Franklin is in his 70s during this book. There were several scenes that I did not enjoy, in particular the sexual relations that Franklin pursues, especially with women much younger than him. Marianne is only 32, and it bothered me immensely when reading about their intimate relationship.
This book is very long, and although it is also the kind of book wherein the process of reading it is seemingly very quick, it took me a very long time to finish and I think that was because I had a hard time connecting with the characters. That being said, if you are interested about the subjects of this book, you should definitely grab a copy, as the author clearly knows the history well and the explanations are both in-depth and easy to understand at the same time.
*I recieved a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
April 26, 2021
The Wisdom of the Flock: Franklin and Mesmer in Paris by Steve M. Gnatz is and interesting view of Franklin sailing to Paris with a copy of the Declaration of Independence, and the time he spent in France. There is a lot to learn here and the author gives his thoughts on what it was like. I found the characters well thought out and crafted and I think they all played their parts well as the story unfolds. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of historical France the happenings there and all that went on as he told Benjamin Franklin’s detailed journey in France. Each scene crafted was told with expertise and detail throughout the places there during that Era. Gnatz takes us on an interesting journey with a compelling story that is mixed with true facts as well as a bit of fiction made up through the mind and eyes of this author.
Being a musician, one thing I especially enjoyed was Marianne Davis and her love for music. Though I know how glass can be musical, I had never heard of the glass armonica Franklin built for Marianne. How I would love to hear Marianne play the glass armonica today. I enjoyed learning even more about this instrument in the interview from the author published here. I encourage you to read this wonderful and interesting interview. I enjoyed this book very much, though it was pretty long, and for me I think it could have been shortened a bit if a lot if the unnecessary words could have been taken out. All in all it is an interesting read. The author’s extensive research is evident here as well as his love and knowledge for the historical icon Benjamin Franklin. I encourage others to check The Wisdom of the Flock: and Mesmer in Paris by Steve M. Gnatz out. Whether you are a history buff or maybe just wanting an interesting historical story.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Being a musician, one thing I especially enjoyed was Marianne Davis and her love for music. Though I know how glass can be musical, I had never heard of the glass armonica Franklin built for Marianne. How I would love to hear Marianne play the glass armonica today. I enjoyed learning even more about this instrument in the interview from the author published here. I encourage you to read this wonderful and interesting interview. I enjoyed this book very much, though it was pretty long, and for me I think it could have been shortened a bit if a lot if the unnecessary words could have been taken out. All in all it is an interesting read. The author’s extensive research is evident here as well as his love and knowledge for the historical icon Benjamin Franklin. I encourage others to check The Wisdom of the Flock: and Mesmer in Paris by Steve M. Gnatz out. Whether you are a history buff or maybe just wanting an interesting historical story.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
April 5, 2021
First off, I would like to say a big thank you to the author for giving me another ARC of this book. The first one came in damaged and well, the author was more than happy to provide me with another one! Now that I have finally finished reading, I'm proud to present my thoughts on it.
"The Wisdom of the Flock: Franklin and Mesmer in Paris" puts an excellent take on history as we know it. This has got to be one of the most well-written books out there. Everything is put together neatly and organized. The writing style is very fluid and captivating, you can tell the author did his research and took his time. I was addicted to this book!
I found the characters to be raw and exquisite. Each one had its own goals, challenges, and personalities. Something about this book, say even if it were written without a plot, would still be intriguing to me.
I just loved everything about this book and I'm so, so, so grateful to the author for providing me another ARC so I could finish it off. Needless to say, the ending was quite satisfying. I think it put a good stopping point to the story and is also a great starting point if the author wants to make another book citing the events that happened after "Franklin and Mesmer in Paris."
I love long books, especially because it's always a long journey into the story. But I also hate them after you finish them, you know it's not going to be the same. If I could reread this book with a fresh mind, I definitely would! I learned so much throughout... The characters, the history, etc.
"The Wisdom of the Flock: Franklin and Mesmer in Paris" is one of those books you need to pick up NOW. 5/5!
"The Wisdom of the Flock: Franklin and Mesmer in Paris" puts an excellent take on history as we know it. This has got to be one of the most well-written books out there. Everything is put together neatly and organized. The writing style is very fluid and captivating, you can tell the author did his research and took his time. I was addicted to this book!
I found the characters to be raw and exquisite. Each one had its own goals, challenges, and personalities. Something about this book, say even if it were written without a plot, would still be intriguing to me.
I just loved everything about this book and I'm so, so, so grateful to the author for providing me another ARC so I could finish it off. Needless to say, the ending was quite satisfying. I think it put a good stopping point to the story and is also a great starting point if the author wants to make another book citing the events that happened after "Franklin and Mesmer in Paris."
I love long books, especially because it's always a long journey into the story. But I also hate them after you finish them, you know it's not going to be the same. If I could reread this book with a fresh mind, I definitely would! I learned so much throughout... The characters, the history, etc.
"The Wisdom of the Flock: Franklin and Mesmer in Paris" is one of those books you need to pick up NOW. 5/5!
April 7, 2021
Great Historical fiction is always a guilty indulgence for me. Make it about people who actually lived and I am in heaven. Steve M. Gnatz has done a fabulous job of building the world of Paris in the late 1700s. More than just painting word descriptions of the places, sights, and sounds, he has captured the voices of these historical icons giving them the gravitas they so much deserve while still making them human enough to grab attention and emotions. The amount of research that must have needed to recreate this rich environment is mind-blowing. I enjoyed reading as the story played out. It forced the reader to ask themselves to answer for themselves where they fall on the spectrum of belief and skepticism. I do love a book that makes me think.
March 26, 2021
I found The Wisdom of the Flock: Franklin and Mesmer in Paris to be a great debut for author Steve Gnatz. I love how his imagination was able to reflect the lives of Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Franz Mesmer while they lived in mid eighteenth century Paris. I have never heard of Dr Mesmer before and was fascinated to find that he really was a historical figure. The Gnatz’s talents shine through with his vivid historical details. I felt like I had been taken back in time and actually living among the characters. I was intrigued from start to finish. It is a thick book but still was able to read it all in a couple of days. I thought it was such a great read.
I am giving The Wisdom of the Flock: Franklin and Mesmer in Paris a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend this one for readers who enjoy reading historical fiction, especially for those that are focused on important figures of the American Revolutionary War era and / or those who lived during the mid eighteenth century Paris, France. I would love to see what Mr Steve Gnatz has in store for his readers in the future. I am interested in seeing who he will bring to life next. This one should not be missed.
I received a paperback copy of The Wisdom of the Flock: Franklin and Mesmer in Paris from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
I am giving The Wisdom of the Flock: Franklin and Mesmer in Paris a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend this one for readers who enjoy reading historical fiction, especially for those that are focused on important figures of the American Revolutionary War era and / or those who lived during the mid eighteenth century Paris, France. I would love to see what Mr Steve Gnatz has in store for his readers in the future. I am interested in seeing who he will bring to life next. This one should not be missed.
I received a paperback copy of The Wisdom of the Flock: Franklin and Mesmer in Paris from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
March 18, 2021
Full of history
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and this book is now top of my list. Gnatz did an excellent job of marrying fact with fiction, providing a fun read with an educational experience.
Historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, and this book is now top of my list. Gnatz did an excellent job of marrying fact with fiction, providing a fun read with an educational experience.
August 6, 2021
The Wisdom of the Flock: Franklin and Mesmer in Paris
This was the best book I’ve read in a long time! If you like historical fiction, you will enjoy this book. The information in the epilogue was also good to know.
This was the best book I’ve read in a long time! If you like historical fiction, you will enjoy this book. The information in the epilogue was also good to know.
April 2, 2021
The cover looked interesting. A chance to understand a bit more about Benjamin Franklin potentially. Little did I know that I’d be taken through an adventure in France and the quirks in the late 1700s. It’s quite amazing how Dr Franklin is portrayed and honored in a country not his own.
Benjamin Franklin was the first American ambassador in France after the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights were written and signed. Taking the month-or-so long trip via boat from America to France is an adventure in itself, but not uncommon.
It’s when he’s in France that readers meet his scientific and societal colleagues. We learn that he needed proof of results and that a theory can only be proven when others can do the same experiment with the same result. But that doesn’t seem to be what Ben is getting from Mesmer and his magnétisme animale to bring healing in people. With Mesmer being so secretive and his helpers and clients not being able to explain anything, Ben has difficulty understanding what exactly is happening. Will he be able to understand what and how Mesmer is healing?
Of course Ben’s role as ambassador must not be forgotten in the midst of scientific discovery. The goal as ambassador was for France to fight alongside the Americans against the British forces as America fights foe its independence. How well do you know your American history? While I thought America was free since 1776, a peace treaty was not signed yet! Or is that just part of this fiction story?
This book is quite easy to follow along and brilliantly written. My only mistake that it’s so very long, taking me over ten hours to complete. Typically I finish a book in two days, so anything that takes me more than three is exhausting. It’s also broken up differently than the usual chapter, with seven parts each broken up by chronology and location in order to better follow Ben, Mesmer, and few other key people.
The Wisdom of the Flock by Steve M Gnatz was provided complimentary by iRead Book Tours and Leather Apron Press in exchange for an honest review. I give this book 4 out of 5 tiaras, mainly because it’s so long and drawn out. It’s my personal preference for books to be less than 400 pages and I’ll pay more attention to the page-length from here on out for sure.
Benjamin Franklin was the first American ambassador in France after the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights were written and signed. Taking the month-or-so long trip via boat from America to France is an adventure in itself, but not uncommon.
It’s when he’s in France that readers meet his scientific and societal colleagues. We learn that he needed proof of results and that a theory can only be proven when others can do the same experiment with the same result. But that doesn’t seem to be what Ben is getting from Mesmer and his magnétisme animale to bring healing in people. With Mesmer being so secretive and his helpers and clients not being able to explain anything, Ben has difficulty understanding what exactly is happening. Will he be able to understand what and how Mesmer is healing?
Of course Ben’s role as ambassador must not be forgotten in the midst of scientific discovery. The goal as ambassador was for France to fight alongside the Americans against the British forces as America fights foe its independence. How well do you know your American history? While I thought America was free since 1776, a peace treaty was not signed yet! Or is that just part of this fiction story?
This book is quite easy to follow along and brilliantly written. My only mistake that it’s so very long, taking me over ten hours to complete. Typically I finish a book in two days, so anything that takes me more than three is exhausting. It’s also broken up differently than the usual chapter, with seven parts each broken up by chronology and location in order to better follow Ben, Mesmer, and few other key people.
The Wisdom of the Flock by Steve M Gnatz was provided complimentary by iRead Book Tours and Leather Apron Press in exchange for an honest review. I give this book 4 out of 5 tiaras, mainly because it’s so long and drawn out. It’s my personal preference for books to be less than 400 pages and I’ll pay more attention to the page-length from here on out for sure.
September 6, 2021
📚📚📚📚📚 = I could not put this book down. I Highly Recommend it.
Benjamin Franklin "The First American," lived an extraordinary life and although I do not know all the ins and outs of his life, I was really looking forward to reading this novel with the hope that I would have a small glimpse into this man's life. This story is set in Paris in the latter part of his life. The history books tell us that Benjamin was a lecherous womanizer and this has been depicted with careful attention to the historical sources of Benjamin's life. At times this made for some cringe induced reading, after all, he is in his seventies and his lust knows no bounds, but I thought it was also an honest interpretation of his life.
His time in Paris is shrouded in mystery - what was he doing there? And having been branded a traitor by the English one can only assume the reason was of vast importance. Steve M. Gnatz has certainly penned a plausible reason.
I thought the depiction of Franz Mesmer was well-drawn and it certainly shone a light on his beliefs and his discovery of magnétisme animale. Doctor Mesmer claims to be able to cure the sick, although he doesn’t reveal how. Mesmer asks people to have faith, to simply believe, while Franklin is desperate to know how Mesmer heals people, to understand the science behind it. I, for one, agree with Franklin, and over the course of this novel I grew incredibly interested in the practice, and ended up researching it after I had finished reading!
Like many books, there is relationship drama. Franklin had an affair with Marianne Davies several years previous, and when they rekindle their relationship. Marianne becomes very involved with magnétisme animale, and her involvement with both Franklin and Mesmer made for a very riveting story as I tried to guess the outcome of both relationships.
This is an incredibly interesting book, and I greatly enjoyed learning about the world that Franklin and Mesmer lived in. I found this book very educational, as well as intriguing, and I loved reading it!
*I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
Benjamin Franklin "The First American," lived an extraordinary life and although I do not know all the ins and outs of his life, I was really looking forward to reading this novel with the hope that I would have a small glimpse into this man's life. This story is set in Paris in the latter part of his life. The history books tell us that Benjamin was a lecherous womanizer and this has been depicted with careful attention to the historical sources of Benjamin's life. At times this made for some cringe induced reading, after all, he is in his seventies and his lust knows no bounds, but I thought it was also an honest interpretation of his life.
His time in Paris is shrouded in mystery - what was he doing there? And having been branded a traitor by the English one can only assume the reason was of vast importance. Steve M. Gnatz has certainly penned a plausible reason.
I thought the depiction of Franz Mesmer was well-drawn and it certainly shone a light on his beliefs and his discovery of magnétisme animale. Doctor Mesmer claims to be able to cure the sick, although he doesn’t reveal how. Mesmer asks people to have faith, to simply believe, while Franklin is desperate to know how Mesmer heals people, to understand the science behind it. I, for one, agree with Franklin, and over the course of this novel I grew incredibly interested in the practice, and ended up researching it after I had finished reading!
Like many books, there is relationship drama. Franklin had an affair with Marianne Davies several years previous, and when they rekindle their relationship. Marianne becomes very involved with magnétisme animale, and her involvement with both Franklin and Mesmer made for a very riveting story as I tried to guess the outcome of both relationships.
This is an incredibly interesting book, and I greatly enjoyed learning about the world that Franklin and Mesmer lived in. I found this book very educational, as well as intriguing, and I loved reading it!
*I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
September 16, 2021
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Benjamin Franklin – everyone knows his name, but not everyone has had the pleasure of reading about his life in-depth as much as those who have read this book. This novel focuses on Ben later in his life, when he is in his 70s and has travelled to Paris to gain the support of France (we are in the American Revolution era). With the rise of popularity of Dr Mesmer’s magnétisme animale, Ben is determined to find out the truth behind Mesmer’s methods.
This novel is certainly an interesting one, and I learnt a great deal while reading this book. Benjamin Franklin was a scientist, so of course, a book about him deals with science and discoveries. I loved reading about an era wherein science was often disregarded in favour of religion, and how simple the science was, by modern standards. The discovery of electricity led to a big leap in science but knowing how to harness and use it was a different thing altogether. This book was fascinating as it tackles many of these themes, and reading it with a modern perspective really puts into place how far science and medicine has come, and how these renowned scientists were only scratching the surface of possibility.
I loved reading about Marianne, and I think she was one of my favourite characters. Marianne is a character who connects Ben and Mesmer, for she had an affair with Ben, and she grows close to Mesmer as she undergoes treatment for melancholia. The view of a woman who shows both of these men from a different perspective was a wonderful addition to this novel, and I loved seeing her story unfold.
The author has clearly put a lot of work into this book, and I cannot do anything but commend the author on creating such a clear image of a time long gone. I loved reading this book, and it has certainly given me an insight into the lives of Franklin and Mesmer.
*I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club. I was under no obligation to leave a review.
Benjamin Franklin – everyone knows his name, but not everyone has had the pleasure of reading about his life in-depth as much as those who have read this book. This novel focuses on Ben later in his life, when he is in his 70s and has travelled to Paris to gain the support of France (we are in the American Revolution era). With the rise of popularity of Dr Mesmer’s magnétisme animale, Ben is determined to find out the truth behind Mesmer’s methods.
This novel is certainly an interesting one, and I learnt a great deal while reading this book. Benjamin Franklin was a scientist, so of course, a book about him deals with science and discoveries. I loved reading about an era wherein science was often disregarded in favour of religion, and how simple the science was, by modern standards. The discovery of electricity led to a big leap in science but knowing how to harness and use it was a different thing altogether. This book was fascinating as it tackles many of these themes, and reading it with a modern perspective really puts into place how far science and medicine has come, and how these renowned scientists were only scratching the surface of possibility.
I loved reading about Marianne, and I think she was one of my favourite characters. Marianne is a character who connects Ben and Mesmer, for she had an affair with Ben, and she grows close to Mesmer as she undergoes treatment for melancholia. The view of a woman who shows both of these men from a different perspective was a wonderful addition to this novel, and I loved seeing her story unfold.
The author has clearly put a lot of work into this book, and I cannot do anything but commend the author on creating such a clear image of a time long gone. I loved reading this book, and it has certainly given me an insight into the lives of Franklin and Mesmer.
*I received a copy of this book from The Coffee Pot Book Club. I was under no obligation to leave a review.
September 14, 2021
I do not recall having read a book about either Benjamin Franklin or Franz Mesmer before, and I am not all that sure that there are many, if any, fictional books about them. So I was really excited when I was given the chance to read this book.
Set in a turbulent time of change in American history, an elderly Benjamin travels to France to try and gain their support in the upcoming revolution against the British. But France, for a man like Benjamin, is like a playground of all his favourite toys—there is a distraction around every corner! And there is nothing as distracting as Doctor Franz Mesmer and his use of magnétisme animale to heal people. With a thirst for scientific knowledge, Benjamin is both curious and suspicious of the doctor, as Mesmer consistently refuses to reveal his secrets to the public.
This novel is fascinating, as it involves many scientists, who are more than happy to discuss and debate different findings. I greatly enjoyed finding out about different things, such as the attempts to harness electricity from an eel! I certainly came away from this book knowing things that I did not know before. This book was both informative and enjoyable to read, and brought to life people and an era that I had not previously had the pleasure to read about. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and it is certainly one I will read again.
*I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
Set in a turbulent time of change in American history, an elderly Benjamin travels to France to try and gain their support in the upcoming revolution against the British. But France, for a man like Benjamin, is like a playground of all his favourite toys—there is a distraction around every corner! And there is nothing as distracting as Doctor Franz Mesmer and his use of magnétisme animale to heal people. With a thirst for scientific knowledge, Benjamin is both curious and suspicious of the doctor, as Mesmer consistently refuses to reveal his secrets to the public.
This novel is fascinating, as it involves many scientists, who are more than happy to discuss and debate different findings. I greatly enjoyed finding out about different things, such as the attempts to harness electricity from an eel! I certainly came away from this book knowing things that I did not know before. This book was both informative and enjoyable to read, and brought to life people and an era that I had not previously had the pleasure to read about. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and it is certainly one I will read again.
*I received a copy of this novel from The Coffee Pot Book Club for review consideration.
September 20, 2021
Straightaway, I must say this is quite an interesting read. Even as an American, knowing a bit about the history of Benjamin Franklin, this story took me by surprise and I realized how little I really knew about this founding father. This book is a perfect example of developing a story idea into quality historical fiction based on perhaps an obscure fact about a historical person. Who knew that Franklin, while in Paris, was such a ladies' man even at 70 years old? Or that he had dealings with the infamous Mesmer, the man who birthed the word 'mesmerize' to our English language; or with Marie Antoinette? I appreciated that the author approached this book as pure speculation from the outset, but I think he did a great job in developing Franklin and Mesmer's relationship and conflicts in a very believable way. Plus, with the additions of such intriguing women such as Marianne Davies, and Milette (Madame Helvetius), as well as the encounters with the Queen of France, added a romantic and, at times, a scandalous nature to the book. All in all, this was a great read, and worthy of recommendation to anyone interested in the backstory of a remarkable man whose historic quotes, pamphlets, books, and revolutionary ideas brought about the United States of America - a historical life which might raise an eyebrow!!
April 1, 2021
Liberally sprinkled with facts and actual historical personage, this fictional account of Ben Franklin's life at the time of the birth of America is a fascinating read.
By the time you are finished you will wonder about your own thoughts and points of view before you began. This book definitely makes you think and ponder.
Covering politics as well as the medical, scientific topics of the times, there is much going on for any historical reader to dig into. I found certain quite relevant and controversial in today's world as well.
Some of the questions pondered and explored centuries ago are still unsolved today.
The authors pace and style are enjoyable and flow quite well.
A few salacious topics are tastefully handled.
The book is told from varying points of view, multiple locations, but is easy to follow.
This is not a book that can be read in one session. You will have to put it down, but will find yourself eager to return.
By the time you are finished you will wonder about your own thoughts and points of view before you began. This book definitely makes you think and ponder.
Covering politics as well as the medical, scientific topics of the times, there is much going on for any historical reader to dig into. I found certain quite relevant and controversial in today's world as well.
Some of the questions pondered and explored centuries ago are still unsolved today.
The authors pace and style are enjoyable and flow quite well.
A few salacious topics are tastefully handled.
The book is told from varying points of view, multiple locations, but is easy to follow.
This is not a book that can be read in one session. You will have to put it down, but will find yourself eager to return.
November 17, 2021
1776,Revolution,Paris,Love,Lovers,Science and history you will find in this historical adventure story of Benjamin Franklin!! Follow this very famous man who went to France to get help in America for George Washington and see how Ben Franklin worked his magic to not only get the French to help us win this war to separate from England but have funding from King Louie and see how it happened with the side situations Ben Franklin worked out.. Love,lust war,science and evil all combines..See how Ben Franklin's love life complications everything.. Especially his own life he left in America!!! Fantastic read!!!
June 26, 2024
This was an interesting book about Ben Franklin being in France, having taken a copy of the Declaration of Independence with him to present to France. His two grandsons travel with him and the people they meet while there. The ladies he meets and the affairs he has. Mainly the difference with his look at science and Mesmer's look at healing that is done with mysticism. Though I thought the book was interesting for me it dragged in places. They spent years there and had many experiences.
April 10, 2021
The Wisdom of the Flock: Franklin and Mesmer in Paris by Steve M. Gnatz made for quite the read. I really enjoyed the whole conflict between science and mysticism as I found it interesting and grabbing. I loved the way that the author braided together numerous genres as it kept me interested between the romance and the mystery there was never a dull moment.
March 17, 2021
Ben Franklin travels to France at a time when America and England were still at war after the Declaration of Independence. There he takes on Mesmer who practices a form of medicine which Franklin doubts is legitimate. A good read based in part on fact but with a lot of fictional addition.
August 21, 2021
Wonderful read
An enchanting mix of history, mystery and mysticism. Makes Franklin and other historical figures come to life as people with real life desires, ills and relationships. I couldn't put it down.
An enchanting mix of history, mystery and mysticism. Makes Franklin and other historical figures come to life as people with real life desires, ills and relationships. I couldn't put it down.
April 2, 2022
Excellent!
Enjoyed traveling back to this fundamentalist time to meet historical friends. Very fun descriptions of famous people, places and times. I felt like I was with the characters and recommend the book for all ages.
Enjoyed traveling back to this fundamentalist time to meet historical friends. Very fun descriptions of famous people, places and times. I felt like I was with the characters and recommend the book for all ages.
April 16, 2021
Very good but,
frightfully long. It took me a good long while to finish this book. And, I read fast! So, if you have the time by all means, read this book!
frightfully long. It took me a good long while to finish this book. And, I read fast! So, if you have the time by all means, read this book!
June 9, 2021
A Wonderful Book...It's Apart Of Those Great Ones That One Never Wants To End!!!
July 25, 2021
Excellent
Witty, engaging and educational, this work of fiction is delightful. The bones of this book are historical fact; the flesh of it is charming, perhaps even mesmerizing!
Witty, engaging and educational, this work of fiction is delightful. The bones of this book are historical fact; the flesh of it is charming, perhaps even mesmerizing!
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