A Diplomat's Memoir of 1870 being the account of a balloon escape from the siege of Paris and a political mission to London and Vienna

"A Diplomat's Memoir of 1870" by Frederic Reitlinger tells of a harrowing escape from Paris and a critical diplomatic mission, set against the backdrop of the Franco-Prussian War. As a private secretary to a key government leader, the author embarks on a dangerous balloon journey from besieged Paris to seek support from London and Vienna, fueled by the hope of uniting European powers for peace, while the narrative captures the spirit, unity, and eventual crushing disappointment of the French during this period of intense political tension and national adversity.