they wanted the old monarchy back. he knew it was not coming back. he came to america in 1831 when he was just 25. he wanted to study our prison system, which he had been mandated to do by his government. he wanted to understand why this great democracy succeeded when france was having one revolution after another. he came with a companion, mr. beaumont. who was he and why did he join him on the trip? they were best friends. they were apprentice magistrates at versailles. they expected a lifelong career in government, which they did have. it was a kind of essential partnership. beaumont was the gregarious one. he was a lot of fun. someone once said they complemented each other like the oil and vinegar in a salad. beaumont would break the ice and be a kind of social inspiration for tocqueville, and he also looked up to his friend. he thought tocqueville was a kind of genius. he admired him. back in 1997 and 1998, we did a lot of tocqueville. some of the audience are prob
very complicated kind of depressive the young man. he was very adventurous. when he was in america, he was 25, and he was having an adventure. when did he live and when did he come to the united states? he was born in 1805. his parents had been executed merely because they were french aristocrats. he grew up in a very privileged family. they wanted the old monarchy back. he knew it was not coming back. he came to america in 1831 when he was just 25. . . beaumont would break the ice and be a kind of social inspiration for tocqueville, and he also looked up to his friend. he thought tocqueville was a kind of genius. he admired him. back in 1997 and 1998, we didsome of the audience are probably going, oh, no, there they go again. i want to ask why there has not been as much of this in the last ten years. you ll see what i am talking about. alexis de tocqueville you know his story. democracy of america. you know his journey. alexis de tocqueville. 160 years ago, fra
is here this morning see were giving consent for your voice for broadcast. we will end with a signing add to this table and anyone who purchases a copy of the book they cue to support your local independent bookstore and the this authors series. please join me in welcoming leo damrosch. [applause] thank you very much. rachel it is a pleasure to speak at this wonderful store for the last 20 years. as she described it a nine month journey oliver the united states under primitive conditions in 1831 through 1832 tocqueville and his good friend who took that trip with him were in their mid-20s hunted magistrates with a career they hoped was a lot and government but the 1830 revolution had just happen but because they were aristocrats by birth and the families are intensively conservative wanted the monarchy back of the employers were suspicious of there loyalty and they thought it might be good to get out of france and thought what could be good so they had the arrangement to go