Improbable Patriot: Where Wit Meets War in Unger's Beaumarchais Biography

Forget stuffy biographies filled with dry dates and dusty facts. "Improbable Patriot: The Secret History of Monsieur de Beaumarchais" by Harlow Giles Unger throws open the curtains on the life of Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, a man who was playwright, inventor, rogue – and, most surprisingly, secret champion of the American Revolution.

Unger paints a captivating portrait of Beaumarchais, a social climber who navigated the treacherous waters of 18th-century French society with wit, charm, and a healthy dose of audacity. We see him jousting with censors, penning subversive plays that both delighted and scandalized, and even locking horns with Mozart (yes, that Mozart) in a public battle of the egos.

But beneath the flamboyant exterior lay a man with a deeper purpose. Unger masterfully unveils Beaumarchais's clandestine role in supplying weapons and funds to the struggling American revolutionaries. This "secret history" is the heart of the book, a tale of cloak-and-dagger operations, political intrigue, and the quiet heroism of an unlikely patriot.

The book isn't without its flaws. At times, the narrative gets bogged down in historical details, potentially losing readers who crave a more streamlined story. Additionally, Unger's admiration for Beaumarchais occasionally borders on hero worship, glossing over some of the character's less savory aspects.

However, these minor stumbles don't overshadow the book's strengths. Unger's engaging writing style brings Beaumarchais and his world to life, reminding us that history is often filled with surprising heroes and unexpected twists. "Improbable Patriot" is not just a biography; it's a testament to the power of individual action, the complexities of human nature, and the enduring allure of a well-told story.

Would I recommend it?

Absolutely! If you're looking for a captivating read that blends history, intrigue, and a touch of the unexpected, then "Improbable Patriot" is a surefire winner. Just be prepared for a few detours into historical minutiae and remember, even the most improbable heroes often have their flaws. After all, isn't that what makes them so fascinating?

Biography of Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, the son of a clockmaker and a gifted inventor, playwright, spy, and supporter of the American Revolution. He led an interesting life and suffered more than his share of calamities, including death of his first wife, imprisonment, others taking credit for his creations, seizure of his assets, censorship, and exile. This book covers his full life – invention of the wristwatch, writing of The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro, and involvement in both the American and French Revolutions. The bulk of this narrative non-fiction covers his life in France. Toward the end it covers his role as a champion of revolution. It is a sensitive and compassionate view of his life. Many viewed him as a target, much of which was due to the classism of the time. Even though he played such a key role in the American Revolution, at his own expense, the American Congress never reimbursed him or offered any significant recognition. It is too bad his contributions are not better known in America. It seems fitting that he is finally getting the credit he deserves. ( )

Interesting account of the French role in bankrolling the American Revolution. The chief contributor being the playwrite Monsieur de Beaumarchais. I had only a vague knowledge of Beaumarchais prior to reading this account. I knew of him as a playwrite who influenced French public attitudes during the revolutionary period. I found the book well conceived, fast paced and informative. In the end I was left feeling the US government treated Beaumarchais shabilly at best and certainly has not adequately honored his contribution to the revolutionaries war effort. ( )

This review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

This book is, in essense, a short biography of Beaumarchais, and on that level, it succeeds relatively well. Beaumarchais was an interesting character who lived an extraordinary life, and the book left me wanting to know more about him, which would be a flaw if the book were trying to do more and be a thorough treatment of his life. The book dwells a little longer on his financial dealings (i.e., arms trading) that played a role in the American Revolution (hence the subtitle) and also tries, albeit sometimes a little too hard, to connect his personal tragedies and philosophies with the motivations behind the fight for American independence. But the book covers the life of Beaumarchais from birth to death, and only during a fairly brief timeframe did the American Revolution play a role. Because of the cursory treatment of most topics, the book is a quick and enjoyable read.

I would also echo a few of the flaws with the book that others have mentioned. The parallels drawn between Beaumarchais and Figaro and the repeated use of this motif grew tiresome for me and seemed somewhat strained at times. On a lesser, but still noticeable, level, there were repeated phrases and descriptions that any moderately alert reader likely will find annoying. In at least one instance, there was a French phrase cited to the same source that was translated in two different ways; a minor hiccup, but one would expect a bit more attention to detail in a non-fiction work. Finally, on the topic of sources, the notes and citations were woefully inadequate. Since this book is more or less a short biography, I would have particularly appreciated, at a minimum, a "Further Reading" section discussing longer, more detailed biographies for those interested in a more exhaustive biography. Although other biographies are cited, it is limited to a citation; there is no indication of which one(s) Mr. Unger found more helpful, dated, biased, or comprehensive.

In sum, if you want a detailed treatment of of the life of Beaumarchais, you won't get it here, but it does serve as a decent and entertaining introduction to the man and the times in which he lived. ( )

Visiting Independence Hall in Philadelphia, I was surprised to see, hung in the side Chambers room two royal portraits. Turning to the Park Service Ranger in her ‘Smokey the Bear’ hat I asked why there were royals portrayed in this hallowed Revolutionary spot!? Smiling at my British accent she explained that they were of the French King Louis, and his Queen, not English royals at all. I recalled the history of the French support against the English in that particular affair, often forgotten or perhaps not even known of by many Americans, and punned back to her – ”Ah yes, the Funding Founders!”

Through books on George Washington and the Revolutionary War I had learned to admire the Marquis de La Fayette, who became almost a son to General George Washington. But I was not aware there was a further French hero who helped the Americans win their revolution – here is the story of Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, better known to us from his works Figaro and the Barber of Seville than for his amazing effort in the funding and arms-supplying to the newly-born America! The son of a clock-maker who hauled himself up as high as royalty by his own bootstraps Pierre is the ultimate republican, as American as apple-pie – yet French. An artistic arriviste, manipulating his way through fortunes, revolutions and marriages but almost personally funding an entire nation in its revolutionary war against a common enemy.

As for our Founding Fathers ….while the Continental Army slowly rotted away by desertion and near starvation in nearby Valley Forge, the snow covered with trails of their bloody foot-prints as only about a third of the army had any shoes, Congress, the author says, indulged in … “the incessant, often infantile backbiting that they euphemistically called congressional debate.” But for the funding of King Louis and the arms supply organized by Ben Franklin and Beaumarchais, the war might well have been lost and American independence never achieved.

Harlow Giles Unger supplies the reader with an easy entry into the complex issue of the war of American independence while detailing the incredible rise and many falls of this talented playwright, a model for his own most famous creation, Figaro.

Never even repaid by Congress for supplying fleet-loads of supplies to the impoverished Army, let alone recognized and honored, Beaumarchais sacrificed not just his own personal fortune (one of several he amazing made and lost) the playwright also lost all civil and citizenship rights through political intrigue in Paris and was at one stage sentenced to face death if he returned to France, his own country – no, not an Improbable Patriot at all, but a courageous one!