Recollections of Europe

A lively series of letters takes listeners from the bustling docks of New York across the Atlantic to the wind‑blown cliffs of Dorset, the fashionable promenades of Cowes, and the winding streets of Paris in the late 1820s. The narrator’s keen eye captures the humor of “land‑birds” and the drama of a shipwreck, then moves on to vivid sketches of English countryside customs, bustling London markets, and the grand ceremonies of French society. Each episode is threaded with personal anecdotes, from a chance encounter with a pickpocket in Westminster to a spirited dinner hosted by the Prince de Condé.

The journey continues as the writer compares legal traditions, military pageantry, and the delicate art of diplomatic etiquette between Britain, France, and the young United States. Listeners will hear colorful descriptions of Versailles’ gardens, the sparkle of Montmartre’s cafés, and conversations with famous figures like Sir Walter Scott. All the while, the voice remains witty and observant, offering a snapshot of a continent on the cusp of modernity.