
A vivid, first‑hand account follows an American industrial commissioner as he journeys across a France torn by conflict. From bustling train stations to the shattered streets of Reims, he records the resilience of ordinary citizens, the determination of soldiers in the trenches, and the ingenuity of workers turning factories into war‑production hubs. The narrative weaves together striking observations of historic sites—Roman bridges, centuries‑old cathedrals—and the stark realities of bombed‑out towns, offering listeners a tangible sense of the landscape’s beauty and its scars.
Interlaced with personal reflections, the author captures moments of unexpected kindness—a French flag carried aloft, a lighthouse keeper’s quiet bravery, and the camaraderie between allied forces. His concise, compassionate voice brings the wartime atmosphere to life without delving into later battles or outcomes, making the memoir an intimate portrait of a nation striving to endure and support its allies.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (325K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF/Gallica) at http://gallica.bnf.fr)
Release date
2007-01-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1840–1927
An industrialist, historian, and generous civic booster, he helped shape Youngstown’s public life and then set out to preserve its story in print. His best-known work captures the people, industry, and growth of Ohio’s Mahoning Valley in rich local detail.
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