The French Revolution

by Ian Davidson

Overview

The French Revolution casts a long shadow, one that reaches into our own time and influences our debates on freedom, equality, and authority. Yet it remains an elusive, perplexing historical event. Its significance morphs according to the sympathies of the viewer, who may see it as a series of gory tableaux, a regrettable slide into uncontrolled anarchy—or a radical reshaping of the political landscape.In this riveting new book, Ian Davidson provides a fresh look at this vital moment in European history. He reveals how it was an immensely complicated and multifaceted revolution, taking place in different places, at different times, and in different spheres; and how subsequently it became weighted with political, social, and moral values. Stirring and dramatic—and filled with the larger-than-life players of the period and evoking the turbulence of this colorful time—this is narrative history at its finest.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781681772929
Publisher:	Pegasus Books
Publication date:	12/06/2016
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	870,833
File size:	61 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

After graduating in Classics from Cambridge, Ian Davidson worked for the Financial Times for many years as their Paris correspondent and chief foreign affairs columnist. He is also the author of Voltaire (Pegasus) and Voltaire in Exile (Grove). Ian lives in England.
After graduating in Classics from Cambridge, Ian Davidson worked for the Financial Times for many years as their Paris correspondent and chief foreign affairs columnist. He is also the author of Voltaire (Pegasus) and Voltaire in Exile (Grove). Ian lives in England.

Table of Contents

Maps ix

Timeline xvii

1 Introduction 1

2 États Généraux 9

3 The Fall of Necker 22

4 The Storming of the Bastille 25

5 The Dismantling of Feudalism 30

6 Declaration of the Rights of Man 34

7 The King Moves to Paris 40

8 The Assembly Starts to Govern France 50

9 The Revolutionaries Reform the Church 59

10 The Flight of the King 66

11 The Rush to War 77

12 The Overthrow of the Monarchy 87

13 The Commune insurrectionnelle 103

14 The Convention 119

15 The War in 1792: From Valmy to Jemappes 130

16 The Trial of the King 137

17 Girondins and Montagnards 144

18 The Fall of the Girondins 154

19 The Civil Wars of 1793 164

20 The Gouvernement révolutionnaire 175

21 The Terreur 190

22 The Spasm of Religion to the Fall of Danton 205

23 The Fall of Robespierre 218

24 The Aftermath 232

25 Epilogue 244

In Place of a Bibliography 253

A Note on the Children of Louis XVI 257

A Note on the Franchise for Women 258

The Coups d'État of the French Revolution 259

The French Text of the Declaration of the Rights of Man of 1789 261

A Note on Money and Inflation 263

A Note on the Comité de salut public 266

A Note on Death and the Revolution 269

Notes 278

List of Illustrations 298

Index 300

Editorial Reviews

10/31/2016
Davidson (Voltaire: A Life), a former correspondent and columnist for the Financial Times, aims to correct modern misperceptions of the French Revolution that toppled the ancien régime in 1789 and ushered in the First Republic. The French Revolution was actually a series of revolutions that began peacefully, Davidson argues, after a group of educated young men set out to build a new state based on the rule of law rather than royal privilege. Within a few years, however, due to both social and economic factors, “the Revolution... entered a period of frenzy and fear, of public and private accusations, of secret denunciations and betrayals.” Though France’s new constitution contained lofty democratic ideals, the bourgeoisie and sansculottes turned on one another as a result of recurrent food shortages, ongoing wars and counterrevolutionary uprisings, and especially the rampant inflation caused when the fledgling government issued paper promissory notes called assignats. At the height of the Terror that gripped the country in 1793–1794, especially in Paris, 35,000–40,000 people died as a direct result of the revolution, most of them executed for intangible offenses. Maximilien Robespierre’s downfall ended the Terror and restored order, but Davidson persuasively argues that the aftershocks of this most turbulent era continue to reverberate into the 21st century. Maps & illus. (Dec.)

Publishers Weekly

An even-handed, step-by-step account of key moments of the French Revolution. A serious work of popular history, challenging enough to intrigue those already familiar with the revolution and accessible enough to engage those who are not.

Shelf Awareness

More than 200 years later, the world’s first true working-class revolution is little-enough understood that a new, nuts-and-bolts history, subtly but importantly reframed, feels essential and sadly all-too-relevant. The terror that followed feels inevitable today, but Davidson shows that it wasn’t.

Vulture (7 Books You Need to Read This December)

Ian Davidson has done him full justice in this rich biography. He hides nothing of his hero's frailties and faults, but his greatness shines all the more brightly.

Allan Massie - The Literary Review

A powerful and illuminating book.

The Sunday Times (London)

There is no shortage of biographies of Voltaire, but this is one of the best of them. Full of the revealing detail that French biographers tend to regard as vulgar gossip.

The Financial Times

Davidson is a fastidious debunker of myths and restorer of balance. He tells his story from beginning to end, one year after the next, with an elegant lucidity, and you learn all you need to know about Voltaire in readable and intelligent form.

The Spectator

A compelling read. An insightful and entertaining picture of the man.

The Guardian

11/01/2016
The French Revolution (1789–99 ) was undoubtedly a significant event that changed the country's path forever. Davidson (Voltaire; Voltaire in Exile) takes a new look at this complex episode, which affected different groups in several countries with varying results. Although influenced by the American Revolution (1775–83), the French uprising couldn't have had a more opposite outcome. The sheer number of those involved in the conflict meant that it was sometimes unclear who stood for what, at any given time. What did the revolutionaries want in the long run? What did they fear? Davidson does his best to explain the decade-long affair. Casual readers may find that keeping track of dozens of historical figures can be overwhelming. VERDICT Davidson does a fair job of describing this period, but it is easy to get lost in the details. Best suited for readers interested in a thorough overview of the French Revolution.—Rebecca Kluberdanz, New York P.L.

Library Journal

★ 2016-09-17
What we dont know about the French Revolution could fill a book; Davidson (Voltaire: A Life, 2010, etc.) has done just thatin spades.In the 1780s, Louis XVI was running out of funds. His usual sources turned him down so he called the Estates General for the first time in nearly 200 years. The king allowed the Third Estate to have twice the delegates, as they represented more population. As such, those citizens finally found their voice and decried the separate meeting of the orders. Eventually, many clergy and some nobles joined them. No one notified the delegates that a meeting with the king was postponed, and this produced the Tennis Court Oath. As the king acceded to the Third Estate, the absolute monarchy simply fell over dead. The first three years of the revolution were reasonably peaceful, as most attempted to solve the eternal issues of bread and money. The dismissal of the cabinet led to anarchy, while the newly formed militia broke into the Bastille to retrieve arms. The National Assembly eliminated royal pensions, tax exemptions, and feudal privileges. With the end of class distinction, the ancient regime collapsed on Aug. 4, 1789. The assembly passed the Declaration of the Rights of Man, defined the nation as the source of sovereignty, overhauled local governments, instituted tax reform, and nationalized the church, with particularly devastating effect. The mob power unleashed by crowd hysteria over hunger and unemployment enabled the working class to assume power, leading to Robespierre and the reign of terror. Ultimately, the Revolution was a series of battles that continued until Napoleon took over. The revolutionaries had no plan or final destination; after 200 years, theyre still trying to get the Constitution right. Throughout the book, the author fills in the gaps in our knowledge about the revolution and its aftermath, and the helpful maps, graphics, and a timeline further illuminate the narrative. An invaluable history of the French Revolution and its repercussions through the years.

Kirkus Reviews