NEGOCIANT

ne·go·ci·ant  (n-go-shnt) n. One that negotiates.

Negociant is the working title of an historical novle-in progress, based on the life of one of the founders of Dubbo, a Frenchman, Jean Emile Serisier. This blog follows the research journey of his story.

There is already much in the public eye regarding Jean’s life, but while the telling of his story so far, shows him to be an extraordinary, driven individual, it is a fairly dry, superficial account of dates and events.

Today, there is so much more information available online, including archives in his native French which reveal his own roots and culture, to reveal something of his character and nature.

The ambition with Negotiant is to flesh out his tale as a true life story, to engage with other characters who shared his meals, stood with him at the funerals of his children and worked with him on his rise to success.

For readers, it’s hoped while they will learn of Jean’s contribution to the development of regional New South Wales and the early colony through a story that touches the heart as well.

As a teenager Jean voyaged from a privileged life built on the spoils of the Triangle Trade which included the buying and selling of slaves. The French Revolution had also scarred his family tree. Bound for the New World’s far shores of Australia, Jean founded what today is the thriving regional New South Wales city of Dubbo where he raised a large family, gained financial success trading with the Overlanders and spent the last years of his life establishing a celebrated winery. Le Negociant will tell the story of one extraordinary man’s journey from the old world to the new. The title is taken from Jean Emile’s hand written death notice in Paris on the morning of his passing, which described his profession as Le Negociant.