With so many sweeping changes over such a relatively short period of time, the book somehow both goes into excruciating detail on many aspects of the Revolution, but also glosses over many events and people with nothing but a passing reference as though the reader is already intimately familiar with even the most minor of. This second edition of the most authoritative and comprehensive history of the French Revolution draws on a wealth of new research in order to reassess the greatest of all revolutions. The listed critical essays and books will be invaluable for writing essays and papers on The French Revolution … Only those who were not paying enough; they will pay what they owe according to a just proportion, and nobody will be overburdened. This text offers a comprehensive overview of the varied historiographical landscape of the French Revolution. It is a history of the French Revolution and not simply of the Revolution in France. Provides a comprehensive and authoritative history of the French Revolution, written in an engaging and lively style ; Analyses the impact of revolutionary events both in France and in the rest of Europe ; Offers a useful chronology of the events of the Revolution Known as Bastille Day in France, this event was in conjunction with perhaps the most important event (to some historians at least) in Western history: the French Revolution. The Oxford History of the French Revolution. I made it about 3/4 of the way through, god knows why. Various groups in French society opposed the ancien régime with its privileged Establishment and discredited monarchy. All Rights Reserved. The Oxford History of the French Revolution Professor William Doyle - ISBN: 9780199252985. British academic writing at its best, for me. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A suggested list of literary criticism on History SparkNotes's The French Revolution (1789–1799). Among the most prominent was William Doyles survey of the French Revolution. Its leaders were influenced by the American Revolution of the 1770s and had much popular support in the 1780s and 1790s. Can general good be done without bruising a few individual interests? Haiti also gets a. ... No doubt; but who? William Doyle, The Oxford History of the French Revolution. ». I, for some reason i wanted to know about the french revolution. I was looking for a book about all the things that everyone is supposed to already know about the French Revolution. Doyle takes an obviously enormous subject and sets it out in clear, economical and often wryly funny prose and manages to make it readable, concise and as thorough as an introductory volume is going to get. The French Revolution is a time of history made familiar from Dickens, Baroness Orczy, and Tolstoy, as well as the legends of let them eat cake, and tricolours. Various groups in French society opposed the ancien régime with its privileged Establishment and discredited monarchy. The French Revolution 82. written constitution guaranteeing a basic range of human rights. However, it's not structured in a helpful way. In 1792 the monarchy was abolished, a republic established, and the execution of the king was followed by a Reign of Terror (September 1793–July 1794). July 14th is not just the day this post was written. There are many familiar images of the French Revolution, garnered from Dickens, Baroness Orczy, and Tolstoy, and … which comprised about 1% of this book [no mention of knitting]. In any historical narrative of such sweeping scope it is necessary to balance focus and moving the narrative along with details sufficient to develop the context and background to those events. It may take another 500 years to understand fully the consequences of the Revolution, the subject of hundreds if not thousands of histories and biographies. Privileges will be sacrificed! … That was to be expected. Excellent overview of French Revolution from a liberalish perspective. The Oxford History of the French Revolution provides a comprehensive and powerful account of the extraordinary events in France and Europe between 1789 and 1799. The French Revolution: A Very Short Introduction - William Doyle - Oxford University Press Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite do not bring a Napoleon to the throne and allow the creation of an Empire. A noted historian of the period, Doyle offered something provided in few other works produced that year: a narrative that ranged from the accession of Louis XVI to the Treaty of Amiens and Napoleon Bonaparte’s confirmation as First Consul in 1802. A decent primer on the French Revolution. French Revolution  This is a comprehensive history of the French Revolution of 1789. It's often difficult to read and difficult to keep track of all the different political bodies within and without France during the French Revolution. It marks a momentous event in the history of France: the storming of the Bastille. », View all related items in Oxford Reference », Search for: 'French Revolution' in Oxford Reference ». The Oxford History of the French Revolution This second edition of the most authoritative and comprehensive history of the French Revolution draws on a wealth of new research in order to reassess the greatest of all revolutions. (1712—1778) French philosopher and writer, See all related overviews in Oxford Reference What can I say? Since its first publication to mark the bicentenary of the French Revolution in 1989, this Oxford History has established itself as the Revolution's most authoritative and comprehensive one-volume history in English, and has recently been translated into Chinese. I didn't read this out of personal choice, but was taking a college course on the French Revolution. However if you do have a bit I promise you it still offers an excellent refresher: it is not just a long series of names, dates and major events designed to give you a timeline. But i didn't want to know about the COUNTLESS PARLIAMENTS and CONSTITUTIONAL DRAFTS or WHATEVER ELSE WHAT HAVE YOU POLITICAL NONSENSE. I'm not sure it would work for the complete novice - because I'm not, so I can't judge that anymore. A revolution is not about law, its about CRAZY HISTORICAL ADVENTURE AND DRAMA! Start by marking “The Oxford History of the French Revolution” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Third Edition. Haiti also gets a few mentions in terms of the uprising there inspired by the Revolution. Social and economic unrest combined with urgent financial problems persuaded Louis XVI to summon the States-General in 1789, an act which helped to set the Revolution in motion. Dismantles the many factors of revolution and players in the game in a very engaging way. (c) Copyright Oxford University Press, 2013. Zhou Enlai was famously misinterpreted when asked by an American diplomat about the implications of the French revolution by responding, "It is too soon to tell." Among the most prominent was William Doyle’s survey of the French Revolution. Published during its bicentenary, this book is an excellent history of the French Revolution from a British perspective. The Oxford history of the French Revolution by Doyle, William, William Doyle, 2002, Oxford University Press edition, in English - 2nd ed. So much good information- straight forward, “We will be paying more! Voltaire, Rousseau, and other Enlightenment thinkers really created the groundwork for revolution in France. Rather, his is a thorough textbook summary of the French Revolution, emphasizing its ironies; in fact, Doyle sees the Revolution as ""in every sense a tragedy""—noting that while it introduced greater rationality and logic into national affairs, greatly improving the administration of the country (including the introduction of the metric and decimal systems), and even introducing a more humane form of execution (the guillotine… Since its first publication to mark the bicentenary of the French Revolution in 1989, this Oxford History has established itself as the Revolution's most authoritative and comprehensive one-volume history in English, and has recently been translated into Chinese. The cold, mechanical efficiency of the method had all Europe watching with fascinated horror. No other. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. The French Revolution: A Very Short Introduction shows that we are still living with the consequences of the French Revolution and explores its legacy in the form of rationality in public affairs, responsible government, decimalization, and the ideology of human rights. Its leaders were influenced by the American Revolution of the 1770s and had much popular support in the 1780s and 1790s. Beginning with the accession of Louis XVI. It manages to give its narrative enough depth that you'll still learn something new, or look at events from a new perspective, while also not feeling like you're getting bogged down in minutiae that are completely beside the point except to specialists. However if you do have a bit I promise you it still offers an excellent refresher: it is not just a long series of names, dates and major events designed to give. for some reason i wanted to know about the french revolution. The French Revolution was full of such deliberate departures from the past, and in the superb Oxford History of the French Revolution William Doyle examines how in just a few years France tried to shed a millenium of accumulated feudal custom and privilege and replace it with a new order based upon reason and enlightenment ideals. For a subject as sprawling and intricate as the French Revolution, Doyle does a more than handy job of streamlining the details without turning it into Cliff's Notes. which comprised about 1% of this book [no mention of knitting]. Enriched and enormously expanded by three generations of widening prosperity, the leisured classes of France had invested their gains in culture – which meant above all education.” But it gives a generally thorough overview of the French Revolution and, interestingly, its impact on the wider world; Ireland and Poland both get mentions as being inspired by the Revolution itself during the Revolution, and the rest of Europe by virtue of conquest, with Latin America being mentioned in passing. William Doyle, The Oxford History of the French Revolution — January 14, 2014. A very readable and enjoyable general introduction to the French Revolution. Great, erudite, comprehensive. Literature, View all reference entries The Oxford History of the French Revolution is a history of the French Revolution by the British historian William Doyle, in which the author analyzes the impact of the revolutionary events in France and in the rest of Europe. After several different forms of administration had been tried, the last, the Directory, was overthrown by Napoleon in 1799. I love this book. A very humanizing approach the the French revolution, especially where Robespierre and the Reign of Terror are concerned. To see what your friends thought of this book, British academic writing at its best, for me. Oxford sucks, Zhou Enlai was famously misinterpreted when asked by an American diplomat about the implications of the French revolution by responding, "It is too soon to tell." I'm not sure it would work for the complete novice - because I'm not, so I can't judge that anymore. The ‘Pre-Revolution’ in a Transnational Perspective This was a period of uncertainty and confusion. These ... old as history, but which the events of the Revolution did nothing to dispel. While some of his theories are a bit dated and have been surpassed by newer ones, that is easily overlooked. In this newly revised and updated edition of The French Historical Revolution, renowned cultural historian Peter Burke provides a critical history of this movement most associated with the French journal Annales, from its foundation in 1929 to the present. Read this, having bought it many years ago in a second-hand shop, in preparation for A Place of Greater Safety, and to be honest it was a bit of a slog. There will be a great outcry! This book, from one of the leading revisionist historians of the French Revolution, has received high praise from a number of historians and newspapers, saying its the most authoritative and comprehensive history of the French Revolution. When they did, they terrified the narrow, secure social élites who in normal times dominated urban life and who never had to worry about the price of a four-pound loaf.”, Paul François Jean Nicolas, vicomte de Barras, Bill Gates Picks 5 Good Books for a Lousy Year. 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