The Concordia: Lines Written by Natives and Residents of Concord, New Hampshire (1907)

JS Chanson was born in Geneva, Switzerland, and grew up in various countries in Europe and Asia. He lives and works in places where humanitarian missions take him. In Khartoum, he encountered a couple on assignment from their government for overseas oil exploration. Over time he learned that they lost their daughter under the one-child policy in a society that preferred male children. The loss that had injured their marriage led them to a long journey to renewal. In the new desert environment, they examined their life together more closely and looked at the world around them more fully. Through dialogue exchanges with the locals and other expatriates, they broadened their views on issues of socioeconomic and political importance. Together, their experiences provided insights into the ways of adjustment to global forces of progress in various traditions and cultures. As the places and incidents are all factual, JS Chanson has altered all the names for reasons of security of the persons who provided inspiration for the characters in his book. In so doing, it not only protects the dignity and innocence of those to whom he listened, but also secures their privilege to live their lives as if his book had never been written.