The French Revolution has generally been recognized as the starting point of modernity. It is the source, in their modern guise, of the founding myths of the nation as the basis of political community and democracy and as the only legitimate way of managing political affairs. While the Revolution, narrowly defined, has been exhaustively denounced and eulogized, its antecedents and more especially its legacies, have been neglected. After the French Revolution aims to rectify this phenomenon. It starts by considering the ideological precursors (including Montesquieu, Rousseau, Condorcet and Sieyes) and the political protagonists (notably Robespierre and the Idealogues) who set the scene for nineteenth century debate and action. Six of the critics of what became the predominant tradition in France are considered in turn, ranging from the extreme Right to the extreme Left. Maistre represents the reactionary, theocratic Right, while Saint-Simon represents the modernizing industrial Right. Liberalism is advocated by the constitutionalist Constant and Toqueville, the champion of the decentralisation. On the Left, Proudhon is the exponent of pluralist and libertarian socialism, while Blanqui embodies the recourse to revolutionary dictatorship. In the concluding chapter, Jack Hayward asks the question: "Is the Revolution over?" While so many in France and elsewhere have sought either to "end the Revolution" or more rarely proclaimed its permanence, the Revolution as a set of aspirations has not been achieved. While France itself has at least stable democratic institutions, the expectations aroused two hundred years ago have still not been satisfied. The Revolution is not yet over.

Davidson provides a reevaluation of prevailing views on the effects of the French Revolution, and particularly on the role of women. Arguing against the idea that women were forced from the public realm of political discussion, Davidson demonstrates how women remained highly visible and active.

Between 1793 and 1794, thousands of French citizens were imprisoned and hundreds sent to the guillotine by a powerful dictatorship that claimed to be acting in the public interest. Only a few years earlier, revolutionaries had proclaimed a new era of tolerance, equal justice, and human rights. How and why did the French Revolution’s lofty ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity descend into violence and terror? “By attending to the role of emotions in propelling the Terror, Tackett steers a more nuanced course than many previous historians have managed...Imagined terrors, as...Tackett very usefully reminds us, can have even more political potency than real ones.” —David A. Bell, The Atlantic “[Tackett] analyzes the mentalité of those who became ‘terrorists’ in 18th-century France...In emphasizing weakness and uncertainty instead of fanatical strength as the driving force behind the Terror...Tackett...contributes to an important realignment in the study of French history.” —Ruth Scurr, The Spectator “[A] boldly conceived and important book...This is a thought-provoking book that makes a major contribution to our understanding of terror and political intolerance, and also to the history of emotions more generally. It helps expose the complexity of a revolution that cannot be adequately understood in terms of principles alone.” —Alan Forrest, Times Literary Supplement

Published in the 1820s, and translated into English in 1838, Thiers' work remains a significant account of the French Revolution.

The Oxford Handbook of the French Revolution brings together a sweeping range of expert and innovative contributions to offer engaging and thought-provoking insights into the history and historiography of this epochal event. Each chapter presents the foremost summations of academic thinking on key topics, along with stimulating and provocative interpretations and suggestions for future research directions. Placing core dimensions of the history of the French Revolution in their transnational and global contexts, the contributors demonstrate that revolutionary times demand close analysis of sometimes tiny groups of key political actors - whether the king and his ministers or the besieged leaders of the Jacobin republic - and attention to the deeply local politics of both rural and urban populations. Identities of class, gender and ethnicity are interrogated, but so too are conceptions and practices linked to citizenship, community, order, security, and freedom: each in their way just as central to revolutionary experiences, and equally amenable to critical analysis and reflection. This Handbook covers the structural and political contexts that build up to give new views on the classic question of the 'origins of revolution'; the different dimensions of personal and social experience that illuminate the political moment of 1789 itself; the goals and dilemmas of the period of constitutional monarchy; the processes of destabilisation and ongoing conflict that ended that experiment; the key issues surrounding the emergence and experience of 'terror'; and the short- and long-term legacies, for both good and ill, of the revolutionary trauma - for France, and for global politics.

Lectures on the French Revolution is a series of lectures by John Acton. An immeasurably and remarkably smart, considered, and impartial reflection on the French Revolution.

Welcome to the compelling world of "The French Revolution 1789-1795" by Bertha Meriton Gardiner, where history unfolds in vivid detail and the tumultuous events of one of the world's most significant revolutions come alive. Join Bertha Meriton Gardiner, a distinguished historian, as she guides you through the dramatic events and complex characters of the French Revolution. From the storming of the Bastille to the Reign of Terror, Gardiner's meticulous research and engaging narrative shed light on the political upheaval and social transformation that reshaped France and reverberated across Europe. Gardiner's insightful aanalysis and rich storytelling bring to life the key figures and pivotal moments of the revolution, exploring themes of liberty, equality, and the struggle for social justice. Through her detailed accounts and historical context, she invites readers to delve deep into the causes and consequences of this transformative period in history. With its blend of historical narrative, political analysis, and cultural insights, "The French Revolution 1789-1795" provides a comprehensive and compelling account that will captivate history enthusiasts and students alike. Gardiner's nuanced portrayal of the revolution's impact on society and politics offers a profound understanding of this pivotal moment in Western history. Since its publication, "The French Revolution 1789-1795" has been acclaimed for its scholarly rigor and readability. Gardiner's authoritative voice and clear exposition make this book an essential resource for anyone seeking to understand the complexities and significance of the French Revolution. As you immerse yourself in Gardiner's narrative, you'll gain new perspectives on the French Revolution's enduring legacy and its relevance to contemporary issues. Her meticulous research and insightful commentary ensure that this book will resonate with readers interested in history, politics, and the human quest for freedom. Don't miss your chance to explore the tumultuous era of the French Revolution with "The French Revolution 1789-1795" by Bertha Meriton Gardiner. Let Gardiner's expert analysis and compelling storytelling transport you to a time of revolution, upheaval, and the pursuit of liberty. Grab your copy now and discover why this book continues to be a definitive account of one of history's most transformative periods.