Product Description

Beginning with a discussion of familiar images of the French Revolution, garnered from Dickens, Baroness Orczy, and Tolstoy, as well as the legends of let them eat cake, and tricolours, Doyle leads the reader to the realization that we are still living with developments and consequences of the French Revolution such as decimalization, and the whole ideology of human rights. Continuing with a brief survey of the old regime and how it collapsed, Doyle continues to ellucidate how the revolution happened: why did the revolutionaries quarrel with the king, the church and the rest of Europe, why this produced Terror, and finally how it accomplished rule by a general. The revolution destroyed the age-old cultural, institutional and social structures in France and beyond. This book looks at how the ancien regime became ancien as well as examining cases in which achievement failed to match ambition. Doyle explores the legacy of the revolution in the form of rationality in public affairs and responsible government, and finishes his examination of the revolution with a discussion as to why it has been so controversial.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7236 in Books
• Published on: 2001-08-23
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 152 pages

Review
Small but impressive (Soldier Magazine )

Synopsis
Beginning with a discussion of familiar images of the French Revolution, garnered from Dickens, Baroness Orczy, and Tolstoy, as well as the legends of let them eat cake, and tricolours, Doyle leads the reader to the realization that we are still living with developments and consequences of the French Revolution such as decimalization, and the whole ideology of human rights. Continuing with a brief survey of the old regime and how it collapsed, Doyle continues to ellucidate how the revolution happened: why did the revolutionaries quarrel with the king, the church and the rest of Europe, why this produced Terror, and finally how it accomplished rule by a general. The revolution destroyed the age-old cultural, institutional and social structures in France and beyond. This book looks at how the ancien regime became ancien as well as examining cases in which achievement failed to match ambition. Doyle explores the legacy of the revolution in the form of rationality in public affairs and responsible government, and finishes his examination of the revolution with a discussion as to why it has been so controversial.

About the Author
William Doyle, is Professor of History at the University of Bristol. His publications include The Oxford History of the French Revolution (1990) , Origins of the French Revolution,(1999), The Old European Order 1660-1800 (1992), and forthcoming from OUP, Old Regime France (2001).

Customer Reviews

Vive la Very Short Introductions!
Fans of this series of books will know that most are very good, a few are duds, and a fair number are amazingly good. Professor Doyle's review of one of the major events in European history is firmly in that last category.

It is both an account of the events themselves and an overview of how they have been interpreted. The subject is complex and has aroused strong opinions across the ideological spectrum. Doyle gives all sides a fair hearing, but with the occasional wry comment that hints at where his own sympathies lie. The emphasis throughout is on the broader historic context rather than being an attempt to cram details into a short introduction. Both readers new to the subject and those looking for a review of where studies in the area now stand will be well served by this book.
[PeterReeve]

A Godsend
It wasn't until I started studying the French Revolution and realised what a vast and sprawling subject it is that I had to admit how little I knew about it. I realise that I garnered nearly all my knowledge from the Scarlet Pimpernel books which I read obsessively as a teenager. Obviously it won't cut the mustard as a authentic history, so back to the drawing board. It was a relief to find this book. It's concise, eloquent without being too wordy and gives a much needed overview of the subject. It is clear from reading this that the French Revolution is still a very contentious topic amongst historians, and having this gloss on the subject was very welcome indeed. It is a great starting point for showing you directions in which you may wish to carry your studies forward. It has a basic timeline and key events, as well as details on movers and shakers and factions. It covers how the study of it has developed and has some good illustrations. Very useful.

Good on legacy of the revolution, weak on the revolution itself
I knew nothing about the French revolution before I bought this book, so decided to give myself a brief introduction. The book is organised into chapters, each covering a totally different aspect of the French revolution. The book's main emphasis is on the legacy of the French revolution in its aftermath, and as such is slightly weak in terms of its explanation of the revolution itself. Consequently, whilst this book would give you a good overview of what the aftermath of the revolution was, and its significance to today, you may find the coverage of the revolution itself rather brief. Indeed, one minute we are at a conference in Paris, the next we are with Napoleon's armies in Egypt, with the reader not quite sure as to how we made this leap. In conclusion, the book is good for those who want to know about the legacy of the revolution, but less so for those interested in the events of the revolution itself.