BIBLIO is the largest independent book marketplace in the world, with over 100 million books.

Skip to content

Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and
Stock photo: cover may vary

Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the Louisiana Purchase /]Ccharles A. Cerami Hardback - 2003

by Charles A. Cerami

Add to wish list

Reader reviews for Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the Louisiana Purchase /]Ccharles A. Cerami

From the publisher

Jefferson's Great Gamble tells the incredible story of how four leaders of an upstart nation--Jefferson, Madison, Monroe and Livingston--risked the future of their country and their own careers; outwitted Napoleon Bonaparte, the world's most powerful ruler; and secured a new future for the United States of America.
For two years before the Louisiana Purchase, the nine principal players in the deal watched France and the United States approach the brink of war over the most coveted spot on the planet: a bustling port known as New Orleans. And until the breakthrough moment when a deal was secured, the men who steered their countries through the tense and often beguiling negotiations knew only that the futures of both nations were being questioned, and that the answer was uncertain.
Jefferson's Great Gamble is an extraordinary work that redefines one of the most important and overlooked events in American history. Charles A. Cerami reveals the untold thrusts and parries of the Louisiana Purchase, an event that was not just a land sale, but thirty months of high drama, blandishment, posturing and secret maneuvers by some of the most powerful and crafty men of their time. Utilizing original correspondence and firsthand accounts, Cerami paints a vivid and engrossing narrative enriched by the words of the men whose talents and weaknesses kept the negotiations alive during the most unsure moments.
When Thomas Jefferson took office as president of the United States in 1801, Louisiana was at the front of his mind. Jefferson knew that the future of the country hinged on its right to navigate the Mississippi River and have access to New Orleans. His hopes for maintaining this right werealmost completely dashed when it was discovered that Napoleon had secretly forced Spain to give the Louisiana Territory to France, and that he had troops on the way to take possession of New Orleans.
Jefferson's only hope to stop the takeover lay in a great gamble: convincing Napoleon that the United States was willing to go to war over the port city. Jefferson knew that war might fracture the new country, which at the time had roughly one thousand men in its army. He was therefore faced with not only convincing Napoleon that the United States was ready to fight, but bluffing him into thinking that it could win that battle.
To execute his plan, Jefferson turned to his brilliant but troubled foreign-relations team. James Madison, the wily secretary of state, devised with Jefferson a disinformation strategy that was remarkable for its ingenuity and effectiveness. Robert Livingston, the American envoy to France, struggled to negotiate with French officials while being disdained and ignored by Jefferson and Madison, his political rivals. And as the final negotiations approached, James Monroe found himself sailing to Paris with the key to how the United States would execute the endgame.
Napoleon was bombarded by contradicting opinions from his two closest advisors. Fran??ois de Barb??-Marbois, the impeccably honest finance minister, pushed toward a sale to raise money for a war with England. Charles-Maurice de Tallyrand-P??rigord, Napoleon's witty and corrupt chief advisor, pushed him to hold on to the colony, a position he believed held long-term benefits for France, if not for Napoleon.
To read Jefferson's Great Gamble is to experience the tense days and nights leading to adecision that changed the face of the world. From the early American infighting to the heated French negotiations to the battle needed years later to secure the purchase, this new history is a story of dedicated men, each driven by love of country, who created an event that Robert Livingston called "the noblest work of our lives."

Details

  • Title Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the Louisiana Purchase /]Ccharles A. Cerami
  • Author Charles A. Cerami
  • Binding Hardback
  • Edition First Edition
  • Pages 8
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Sourcebooks, Naperville, Illinois
  • Publication date 2003
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9781570719455 / 1570719454
  • Weight 1.26 lbs (0.57 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.3 x 6.26 x 1.1 in (23.62 x 15.90 x 2.79 cm)
  • Category History - U.S.
  • Library of Congress subjects Jefferson, Thomas, United States - Territorial expansion
  • Library of Congress Catalogue Number 2002153440
  • Dewey Decimal Code 973.46

More Copies for Sale

Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the...
Stock photo: cover may vary

Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the Louisiana Purchase

by Charles A. Cerami

  • Used
  • Good
  • Hardback
Condition
Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781570719455 / 1570719454
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$1.97
A$5.86 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Sourcebooks Inc, 2003T. hardcover. Good. 1.3000 in x 9.1000 in x 5.9000 in.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$1.97
A$5.86 Delivery to USA
Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the...
Stock photo: cover may vary

Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the Louisiana Purchase

by Charles A. Cerami

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781570719455 / 1570719454
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$7.39
A$5.86 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Sourcebooks Inc. Used - Very Good. Very Good condition. Very Good dust jacket. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner’s name, short gifter’s inscription or light stamp.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$7.39
A$5.86 Delivery to USA
Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the...
Stock photo: cover may vary

Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the Louisiana Purchase

by Charles A. Cerami

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781570719455 / 1570719454
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$7.39
A$5.86 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Sourcebooks Inc. Used - Good. Good condition. Very Good dust jacket. A copy that has been read but remains intact. May contain markings such as bookplates, stamps, limited notes and highlighting, or a few light stains.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$7.39
A$5.86 Delivery to USA
Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the...
Stock photo: cover may vary

Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the Louisiana Purchase

by Charles A. Cerami

  • Used
  • Hardback
Condition
Used
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781570719455 / 1570719454
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$8.08
A$8.08 Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Sourcebooks, Inc., March 2003. Hardcover. Used - Very Good/As New. This copy look like a New Unread Book, with Quick Shipping and Delivery Confirmation!
Add to wish list
Item price
A$8.08
A$8.08 Delivery to USA
Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the...
Stock photo: cover may vary

Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the Louisiana Purchase

by Charles A. Cerami

  • Used
  • Very good
  • first
Condition
Very good
Edition
First Edition
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781570719455 / 1570719454
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$9.42
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Sourcebooks Inc. First Edition. Very Good. With dust jacket. It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$9.42
Free Delivery to USA
Jefferson's Great Gamble : The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men behind the...

Jefferson's Great Gamble : The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men behind the Louisiana Purchase

by Charles A. Cerami

  • Used
  • Acceptable
  • Hardback
Condition
Acceptable
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781570719455 / 1570719454
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$10.90
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Sourcebooks, Incorporated, 2003. Hardcover. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.90
Free Delivery to USA
Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the...

Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the Louisiana Purchase /]Ccharles A. Cerami

by Cerami, Charles A.

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Hardback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781570719455 / 1570719454
Quantity available
3
Seller
Item price
A$10.90
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Sourcebooks, 2003. Hardcover. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.90
Free Delivery to USA
Jefferson's Great Gamble : The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men behind the...

Jefferson's Great Gamble : The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men behind the Louisiana Purchase

by Charles A. Cerami

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Hardback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781570719455 / 1570719454
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$10.90
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Sourcebooks, Incorporated, 2003. Hardcover. Very Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. The spine remains undamaged. The dust jacket is missing. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$10.90
Free Delivery to USA
Jefferson's Great Gamble : The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men behind the...
Stock photo: cover may vary

Show details

Description:
Sourcebooks, Incorporated. Used - Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$11.58
Free Delivery to USA
Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the...
Stock photo: cover may vary

Jefferson's Great Gamble: The Remarkable Story of Jefferson, Napoleon and the Men Behind the Louisiana Purchase

by Charles A. Cerami

  • Used
  • Hardback
  • first
Condition
Used
Edition
First Edition
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9781570719455 / 1570719454
Quantity available
1
Seller
Item price
A$12.16
Free Delivery to USA

Show details

Description:
Brand: Sourcebooks, Inc, 0000-00-00. First Edition. hardcover. Used: Good. 6.00x1.00x9.00. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
Add to wish list
Item price
A$12.16
Free Delivery to USA