Monsieur de Saint-George : virtuoso, swordsman, revolutionary, a legendary…

This is a great window on race in the 18th century, in the French Pre-revolutionary and Revolutionary context. I really don't know very much about the French Revolution, and this book reminds me that I need to read a good history of it. The author paints the "forgotten" life story of the mulatto son of a French aristocrat and a Colonial French slave woman, as he becomes the best swordsman and most famous musician of his day. The book interweaves an account of developments in culture, theater and music in which Monseiur de Saint-George played a central role with the developing currents of revolution in France. Much of the presentation is beyond my expertise or familiarity but is nonetheless interesting and somewhat comprehensible to a naive reader. It describes what was possible socially and artistically for Monseiur de Saint-George in his time and place, and what avenues (marriage to a white woman, certain levels of military command, social acceptance in certain circles) were permanently blocked for him. French racism has a different cast than Anglo racism, but in the end it was all of the same stinking corpse. Monseiur de Saint-George's life of achievement in that late 18th century world of the French revolution is fascinating to discover. ( )