Jean-François de Bourgoing

Posts in The Copybook credited to ‘Jean-François de Bourgoing’

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Dancing in the Dock Jean-François de Bourgoing

The fandango is Spain’s most alluring national dance, and the story goes that even the most solemn clergyman could not resist it.

Jean-François de Bourgoing was secretary to King Louis XVI’s legation to Spain from 1777 to 1786, and served as Ambassador in 1792-93. The French Revolutionary government mistrusted him, but his diplomatic career revived under Napoleon. In 1807, he brought out a fourth edition of his popular study of modern-day Spain, first published ten years earlier, which included this account of the fandango.

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