Grand avenues

the long version

The story of Pierre Charles L'Enfant and the creation of Washington D.C.--from the seeds of his inspiration to the fulfillment of his extraordinary vision. L'Enfant's story is one of consuming passion, high emotion, artistic genius, and human frailty. As a young man he left his home in Paris to volunteer in the army of the American colonies, where he served under George Washington. It was Washington himself who, in 1791, entrusted L'Enfant with the planning of the nation's capital--and reluctantly allowed him to be dismissed from the project eleven months later. The plan was published under another name, and for the remainder of his life L'Enfant fought for recognition. But he would not live to see that day, and a century would pass before L'Enfant would be given credit for his brilliant design. Berg recounts his evocative tale with the narrative verve of a novel.--From publisher description.