A History of the French Legation, Paperback

This readable and thoroughly documented volume relates the fascinating story of the French Legation in Austin. The oldest house in the city, it was built in 1840-1841 as the residence of the French chargé d'affaires to the fledgling Republic of Texas. Alphonse Dubois, the self-styled "Count de Saligny," dazzled frontier Texans with elegant parties until he was recalled after less than a year in Austin.

About author(s):KENNETH HAFERTEPE is chair of the department of museum studies at Baylor University. He is the author of several books, including America's Castle: The Evolution of the Smithsonian Building and Its Institution, 1840-1878 and Abner Cook: Master Builder on the Texas Frontier.