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When his father dies, Fallon inherits two letters that are an integral part of a family story passed down for generations. The letters were written in 1817 to Fallon’s great-great-grandfather, Thomas, and were from Chateaubriand, who is widely regarded as the father of French literature. The family story told by the author's father stars Mary O’Neill, who meets Chateaubriand in London and helps him through a difficult period in his life in exile from France. Years later, they meet again when Mary is married to Patrick Fallon and has a son named Thomas. Chateaubriand decides to help young Thomas secure an education and supports him throughout his life. The letters to Thomas corroborate this support. But they also raise questions about Chateaubriand's motives for supporting him, so author and descendant Fallon undertakes rigorous research to determine the details and historical accuracy of this intriguing family lore.
As a distinguished scholar, Fallon is exceedingly qualified to research the truth in this historical hunt for facts and clarification regarding his ancestors. Through this process, he generates a compelling combination of memoir, biography, and history. He presents biographical research on Chateaubriand, seeks archival evidence for Mary’s life, and follows Thomas’ path through documents and records. Eventually, even DNA evidence adds more pieces to the puzzle. Metaphors abound in Fallon’s account. At times, the story is a puzzle. At other times, it is a relay race with his father passing the baton to the son who hopes to reach the finish line of this worthy endeavor. Fallon writes with one hand stretched back to the past with palm open, ready to receive, while also with his feet firmly planted in the archives of the present and focused determinedly on finding answers. In the research process, new questions always arise as new information is uncovered. Fallon addresses this eloquently as he explores historical inquiry and the role of interpretation, which “remains the craft of history.” Even as the author uncovers facts and evidence, he still must interpret motives, imagine possibilities, and consider the context of the times in search of plausibility.
Fallon’s robust commentary on the impact of Chateaubriand’s acts of kindness and financial support for his ancestor brings a stirring closure to his quest. He acknowledges with gratitude the generational impact of this relationship. With tremendous insight, Fallon shares the legacy of Chateaubriand on his family that continues to be felt and experienced today. He draws wonderful parallels between the past and the present, offering up morsels of wisdom about family history and the intriguing benefits of genealogical research. Chateaubriand is an important figure in French literature, and his impact reverberates through the literary canon. Fallon expertly gives an account of his life and illuminates the time period. But he also captures the reverberations through his own bloodline as this great literary figure “immensely increased the prospects of success not only for Thomas but for countless future generations.” The result of Fallon’s extensive research is a tribute to his father—a vivacious storyteller—but is also a salute to historical research.
A 2023 Eric Hoffer Book Award Category Finalist
RECOMMENDED by the US Review