Nicely presented work about the Louisiana purchase covering the view points of both Jefferson and his administration as well as the French operatives of Napoleon ( )

I really enjoyed this look at the background and machinations behind the Louisiana Purchase. My knowledge had been limited to Thomas Jefferson's part in it, so I was intrigued by Madison and Monroe's parts in the purchase [and background leading to it] and the significant roles of people whose involvements are not well known much less suspected. Detailed research and interesting persons explored in detail. ( )

There's a lot wrong with this book as a work of history.
Cerami speculates a lot, especially in the first half, about the thoughts and feelings of his subjects--speculation based upon his impressions of them which he has gleaned from other biographies.
The endnotes are a complete disaster--I jumped back many times to find sources, and was often left hanging. The bibliography consists almost entirely of biographies of the main historical giants, and a general reference to "Letters", and very few primary sources. Its perspective is too skewed--Napoleon is a shadowy colossus across the sea, Talleyrand a diplomatic genius whose flaws (Cerami suggests) we must overlook to appreciate his character, while Jefferson and Madison are the dynamic duo. Jefferson actually comes off a little strange, threatening war until du Pont suggests the purchase. This skew goes so far, at one point, as to refer to America's budding State Department as "our".
It is a very readable account of an important event, but the breezy style goes too far, e.g. referring to the "Jefferson-Madison Theatrical Society". ( )

This great little book explains the negotiations behind the greatest land purchase in U.S. history. Cerami introduces us to the players behind the scenes negotiating with the French, as well as the pressures at home to make this deal happen. ( )