Brief Description
A strikingly new account of the impact of the French Revolution in Paris, across the French countryside, and around the globe
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A strikingly new account of the impact of the French Revolution in Paris, across the French countryside, and around the globe
The French Revolution has fascinated, perplexed, and inspired for more than two centuries. It was a seismic event that radically transformed France and launched shock waves across the world. In this provocative new history, Peter McPhee draws on a lifetime s study of eighteenth-century France and Europe to create an entirely fresh account of the world s first great modern revolution its origins, drama, complexity, and significance.
Was the Revolution a major turning point in French even world history, or was it instead a protracted period of violent upheaval and warfare that wrecked millions of lives? McPhee evaluates the Revolution within a genuinely global context: Europe, the Atlantic region, and even farther. He acknowledges the key revolutionary events that unfolded in Paris, yet also uncovers the varying experiences of French citizens outside the gates of the city: the provincial men and women whose daily lives were altered or not by developments in the capital. Enhanced with evocative stories of those who struggled to cope in unpredictable times, McPhee s deeply researched book investigates the changing personal, social, and cultural world of the eighteenth century. His startling conclusions redefine and illuminate both the experience and the legacy of France s transformative age of revolution."
Review Quotes
1. Richly detailed finds way to both revivify and dissect the revolutionary passions through not just Paris, but throughout France, it s colonies and eventually the rest of the world. Ruth Scurr, Financial Times--Ruth Scurr"Financial Times" (04/23/2016)"
2. Articulate and perceptive . . . Numerous histories of the French Revolution exist; while many are good, none is so current on the literature and lucidly presented as this. Scholars and history lovers will rejoice. David Keymer, Library Journal (starred review)--David Keymer "Library Journal ""
3. Deeply satisfying and masterfully written . . . [a] fine and illuminating book. David Walton, Dallas Morning News--David Walton "Dallas Morning News ""
4. Any card-carrying historian must record with admiration Peter McPhee s remarkable mastery of the literature, the debates, and the generations of interpretation about the French Revolution McPhee s splendid book historiographically astute, sensitive to moral as well as political and social positions, beautifully written provides a guide through the complexities of the Revolution and reflects on its legacy. Robert Aldrich, Australian Book Review--Robert Aldrich"Australian Book Review" (08/01/2016)"
5. This splendid and accessible synthesis, lavishly illustrated with some striking visual images, will surely become the standard text in English Succeeds in the daunting task of encompassing a host of issues in a comprehensible fashion. Malcolm Crook, History--Malcolm Crook"History" (10/01/2016)"
