Thomas C. Williams is an American author and historian living in France since 1989. A former U.S. Embassy staffer, he is a leading expert on Volney and Thomas Jefferson’s secret translation of The Ruins of Empires, a radical Enlightenment text that nearly derailed Jefferson’s presidency. He has lectured at the Robert H. Smith Research Facility (Monticello) and the French Senate, published widely on the subject, and donated the largest collection of Jefferson translations to Monticello. He is also the author of the historical novels English Turn and Kash Kachu.
In this episode, Thomas joins me for a deep dive into the life and legacy of Volney: Enlightenment thinker, revolutionary, and author of The Ruins of Empires. We begin with Volney’s intellectual formation and his role in the early days of the French Revolution, then explore his friendship with Thomas Jefferson and the political risks surrounding Jefferson’s secret translation of Ruins. Finally, we look at how Volney’s ideas continue to resonate today, offering a striking lens through which to view modern events.
Timecodes
Introduction
01:10 - Volney’s Biography & Intellectual Formation
25:58 - Volney and Jefferson: Transatlantic Ideals
56:30 - Volney’s Legacy and Contemporary Relevance
1:16:38 - Conclusion
Volney's Ruins, translated by Jefferson, on Project Gutenberg.
Thomas socials:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ruinsofempires.bsky.social
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RuinsOfEmpires
Thomas's novels:
English Turn: Napoleon Invades Louisiana: Volume I: Ruins of Empires
Kash Kachu (White House): Volume 1: Revenge of the Katchina
Artwork: Constantine Francois Volney, Count of Chasseboeuf, by Gilbert Stuart, ca. 1795. From PAFA.
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