Thomas C. Williams is an American author and historian living in France since 1989. A former U.S. Embassy staffer, he is a leading expert on Volney and Thomas Jefferson’s secret translation of The Ruins of Empires, a radical Enlightenment text that nearly derailed Jefferson’s presidency. He has lectured at the Robert H. Smith Research Facility (Monticello) and the French Senate, published widely on the subject, and donated the largest collection of Jefferson translations to Monticello. He is also the author of the historical novels English Turn and Kash Kachu.

In this episode, Thomas joins me for a deep dive into the life and legacy of Volney: Enlightenment thinker, revolutionary, and author of The Ruins of Empires. We begin with Volney’s intellectual formation and his role in the early days of the French Revolution, then explore his friendship with Thomas Jefferson and the political risks surrounding Jefferson’s secret translation of Ruins. Finally, we look at how Volney’s ideas continue to resonate today, offering a striking lens through which to view modern events.

Timecodes
Introduction
01:10 - Volney’s Biography & Intellectual Formation
25:58 - Volney and Jefferson: Transatlantic Ideals
56:30 - Volney’s Legacy and Contemporary Relevance
1:16:38 - Conclusion

Volney's Ruins, translated by Jefferson, on Project Gutenberg.

Thomas socials:

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ruinsofempires.bsky.social

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RuinsOfEmpires

Thomas's novels:

English Turn: Napoleon Invades Louisiana: Volume I: Ruins of Empires

Kash Kachu (White House): Volume 1: Revenge of the Katchina

Artwork: Constantine Francois Volney, Count of Chasseboeuf, by Gilbert Stuart, ca. 1795. From PAFA.

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In July 1830, Paris erupted. For three days, workers, students, and veterans rose against royal ordinances that trampled the Charter of 1814. Barricades filled the streets, the tricolour flag flew once more, and the Bourbon monarchy collapsed. King Charles X fled, and Louis-Philippe—styled the “Citizen King”—took the throne.

This revolution wasn’t just a power shift; it was a powerful reminder that France’s revolutionary spirit was far from extinguished. From backroom politics to street battles, the July Revolution marked a turning point in modern French history.
Join us to revisit this pivotal moment.

Timecodes

Introduction
04:06 - A Broken Country
11:19 - A Step Too Far
19:52 - The Barricades
25:38 - King of the French
35:50 - Conclusion

To know more about the world behind the 1830 Revolution — the politics, the kings, the chaos — check out The Siècle‬, a phenomenal podcast on 19th-century France. Available on your podcast app of choice or at: https://thesiecle.com/

Relevant Episodes:
The French Revolution, a Worldwide Tremor
Napoléon Part II - From Paris to Saint Helena

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: La Liberté guidant le peuple. Eugène Delacroix, 1830. Musée du Louvre, Paris.

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If you weren't sleeping through your chemistry classes in high school, you probably heard the phrase "Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed." This is basically what we know as the law of conservation of mass. It was coined by Antoine Lavoisier, the man considered the father of modern chemistry and one of history's most influential scientists.

However, he will end his days under the blade of the guillotine in 1794. How can this be? Join us as we delve into the remarkable but tragic life of Lavoisier, a savant at the scaffold!

Timecodes

Introduction
06:36 - Young, Rich and Brillant
13:25 - Understanding Nature
20:39 - The French Revolution
25:37 - The Blade Falls
31:17 - Conclusion

Relevant Episode:
The French Revolution, a Worldwide Tremor

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: Portrait d'Antoine Lavoisier et de sa femme, Jacques-Louis David, 1788. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

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The story of the Résistance is the story of ordinary men and women rising to the occasion. Risking everything to fight oppression, to defend their homes, their country, their way of life. Being a résistant could mean many things. You could be part of a network, you could just run errands or messages, you could spy on the Germans or just not answer their questions properly. The Résistance took many, many forms, just like the collaboration.

Join us as we explore this troubled, violent and fascinating period of French history!

Timecodes
Introduction
05:29 - Rising from the Ashes
13:47 - Deciding to Fight
20:31 - Unifying the Movements
26:56 - Liberating France
37:07 - Conclusion

Relevant Episodes:
The Fall of France of 1940, German Victory or French Defeat?
Charles de Gaulle, Tales of Grandeur

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Photograph: The Résistance fighter Simone Segouin, aka "Nicole Minet", on August 23rd 1944.

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This is part II of our episode swap on The Raft of the Medusa from the great podcast Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs by Rich Napolitano. Enjoy this bonus episode and check out Rich's podcast, it's fantastic!

The French frigate Medusa shipwreck is one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history, occurring in 1816 off the coast of present-day Mauritania. The ship, intended to transport French officials to Senegal, ran aground on the Arguin Bank due to the incompetence of its captain, Viscount Hugues de Chaumareys and an arrogant passenger Antoine Richefort, who convinced Chaumareys he was a skilled, experienced navigator. The evacuation of the vessel was chaotic and poorly managed, resulting in the abandonment of over 147 passengers on a crude, makeshift raft. The survivors endured a harrowing ordeal of starvation, dehydration, and cannibalism during their 13-day drift before rescue, with only 15 out of the 147 surviving.

The aftermath of the Medusa shipwreck sparked public outrage in France, leading to a sensational trial and widespread condemnation of the ship’s officers and government officials involved. Théodore Géricault, a French artist, famously depicted the tragedy in his painting “The Raft of the Medusa,” capturing the despair and horror experienced by the survivors. The disaster highlighted systemic issues within the French naval administration, including nepotism and incompetence, prompting reforms in naval recruitment and training practices.

Links:
The Raft of the Medusa page, on Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs: https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2024/03/11/the-raft-of-the-medusa/

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: Le Radeau de la Méduse by Théodore Géricault, 1818-1819

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In this very special episode, we interview Thérèse Casadesus Rawson, daughter of the renowned French pianists Robert and Gaby Casadesus. The occasion is the publication of Gaby Casadesus' book My Musical Notes: A Journey in Classical Piano between the World Wars and Beyond, now available in English. We discuss the book, as well as Thérèse's parents' careers, lives, and enduring legacy.

Together, we travel around the globe, delve into the lives of some of the most celebrated musicians of the twentieth century, and even touch on encounters with other famous figures, including Albert Einstein. Join us for a musical journey unlike any other.

Timecodes
Introduction
02:45 - Pianists Careers and Love
07:18 - The 1920's & 30s
16:57 - Einstein, the War & the USA
30:59 - Post War Life in France and the USA
38:22 - The Tragedies of 1972
45:32 - The Couple's Legacy
50:10 - Conclusion

Links:
Get the book My Musical Notes: A Journey in Classical Piano between the World Wars and Beyond My Musical Notes by Gaby Casadesus. Available at Barnes & Nobles, Indigo and Amazon (unaffiliated links).

The Casadesus Family's Website: https://casadesus.com

The Fontainebleau Schools for Music and Fine Arts: https://fontainebleauschools.org

Robert Casadesus' page on Apple Music Classical: https://classical.music.apple.com/ca/artist/robert-casadesus-1899?l=fr-CA

Gaby Casadesus' page on Apple Music Classical: https://classical.music.apple.com/ca/artist/gaby-casadesus-1901?l=fr-CA

Casadesus: First Family Of The Piano (DVD): https://www.vaimusic.com/product/4276.html

Robert Casadesus Website: https://www.robertcasadesus.com/en/long-biography/

Danses Méditerranéennes and Dolly: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/casadesus-3-danses-m%C3%A9diterran%C3%A9ennes-chabrier-3-valses/1452594800

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: Robert and Gaby Casadesus, photo by Axel Chambily-Casadesus

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We have something special for today, an episode swap! Coming straight from the great podcast Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs by Rich Napolitano, I give you the story of the Radeau de la Méduse, The Raft of the Medusa.

The French frigate Medusa shipwreck is one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history, occurring in 1816 off the coast of present-day Mauritania. The ship, intended to transport French officials to Senegal, ran aground on the Arguin Bank due to the incompetence of its captain, Viscount Hugues de Chaumareys and an arrogant passenger Antoine Richefort, who convinced Chaumareys he was a skilled, experienced navigator. The evacuation of the vessel was chaotic and poorly managed, resulting in the abandonment of over 147 passengers on a crude, makeshift raft. The survivors endured a harrowing ordeal of starvation, dehydration, and cannibalism during their 13-day drift before rescue, with only 15 out of the 147 surviving.

The aftermath of the Medusa shipwreck sparked public outrage in France, leading to a sensational trial and widespread condemnation of the ship’s officers and government officials involved. Théodore Géricault, a French artist, famously depicted the tragedy in his painting “The Raft of the Medusa,” capturing the despair and horror experienced by the survivors. The disaster highlighted systemic issues within the French naval administration, including nepotism and incompetence, prompting reforms in naval recruitment and training practices.

Links:
The Raft of the Medusa page, on Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs: https://shipwrecksandseadogs.com/blog/2024/03/11/the-raft-of-the-medusa/

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: Le Radeau de la Méduse by Théodore Géricault, 1818-1819

Support the show

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Charles MacKay, PhD, former university history professor at Morehead State University and West Virginia University joins us to discuss Queen Marie-Antoinette and her family, especially her son, the ill-fated Louis XVII.

These members of the French royal family suffered terribly during the French Revolution, eventually losing their lives to the guillotine or to mistreatment. Join us for a riveting discussion on this Cursed Family.

Timecodes
Introduction
03:56 - The Austrian Bride
07:55 - Marie-Antoinette, Queen of France
19:29 - The Affair of the Diamond Necklace
34:18 - The Royal Couple's Family Life
39:39 - The French Revolution
45:52 - The Flight to Varennes and the Queen's Trial
56:02 - Louis XVII, an 8-year-old in solitary confinement
01:02:52 - The Legacies of Marie-Antoinette & Louis XVII
01:10:23 - Conclusion

Links:

Charles’s BlueSky profile: https://bsky.app/profile/bubblesvampire.bsky.social

Charles’s X profile: https://x.com/BubblesVampire

Music: Marche pour la cérémonie des Turcs, composed by Jean-Baptiste Lully, arranged and performed by Jérôme Arfouche.

Artwork: Marie-Antoinette et ses enfants, by Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun, 1787.

Support the show

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