Book Talk, Improbable Patriot: The Secret History of Monsieur de Beaumarchais, the French Playwright Who Saved the American Revolution
When:
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 7:00p -
8:00p
Tuesday, May 12, 2026 7:00p -
8:00p
Where:
Online event
Admission:
FREE
Hosted by:
Categories:
History
Event website:
https://wgbh.zoom.us/webinar/register/4417745374800/WN_3ZhyR-MPQ5CyS3ewE9RlrA#/registration
In this compelling conversation, historians Robert J. Allison and Iris de Rode uncover the hidden story behind the Improbable Patriot, revealing how intrigue, ambition, and daring shaped the fight for independence.
A Playwright. A Spy. A Revolution.
In 1776, the playwright and inventor Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais conceived an audacious plan to send aid to the American rebels. What’s more, he convinced King Louis XVI to bankroll the project and single-handedly carried it out. By war’s end, he had supplied Washington’s army with most of its weapons and powder, though he was never paid or acknowledged by the United States. To some, he was a dashing hero, a towering intellect who saved the American Revolution. To others, he was a pure rogue, a double-dealing adventurer who stopped at nothing to advance his fame and fortune. In fact, he was both, and more: an advisor to kings, an arms dealer, and an author of some of the most enduring works of the stage.
This is more than a story of the past—it’s a reminder that history is often shaped by unexpected individuals working in the shadows. It challenges us to reconsider who makes changes possible, and how. Join us to discover the untold story of the man who helped ignite a revolution—and the power of individuals to shape history against the odds.
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