Robespierre and the french revolution by ruth scurr. Maximilien robespierre biography french revolutionary. Whats the best book on the french revolution for a newb. Early life a poor youth, he was enabled to study law in paris through a scholarship.
This book takes a look at how an awkward, very self conscious, and moralistic individual was transformed by and also greatly changed the french revolution. Jan 06, 2019 as the french revolution gripped the nation, robespierre frequently spoke in the constituent assembly in favor of the lower classes of france voicing ideas supporting equal rights for all. Maximilien robespierre 17581794 was a young provincial lawyer who came to paris as a representative. Robespierre and the french revolution by ruth scurr buy on amazon for some, robespierre is the single most fascinating person from the french revolution, and scurrs biography is a really good examination of his life and stark fall from grace. A riveting biography of the french revolutions most enigmatic figure that restores him to his pivotal historic place since his execution by. Robespierre and the french revolution paperback or. A meticulous but limited treatise on the life of one of frances most notorious revolutionaries. Danton, robespierre, and marat are characters in victor hugos novel, ninetythree quatrevingttreize, set during the french revolution. During this period robespierre coined the motto liberte, egalite, fraternite freedom, equality, fraternity. An attorney by trade, he became physically sick when he condemned a guilty man to death. Kids learn about the biography of maximilien robespierre from the french revolution including his early life, entering politics, the jacobins, gaining power, the reign of terror, fall from power, execution, and facts. Since his execution by guillotine in july 1794, maximilien robespierre. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search.
A peoples history of the french revolution by eric hazan. Robespierre and the french revolution paperback or softback. At the time of his death, rousseaus writings were well known in france, though he had not exerted the influence that he would when france entered its revolution. He wrote the standard biography of robespierre as well as the french revolution. He was a fellow of the british academy and honorary fellow of magdalen college, oxford. Maximilien robespierre was born in arras, france, in 1758. The society of the friends of the constitution, known as the jacobin club, was the most influential political club during the french revolution. I have recently gotten very interested in robespierre as one the main figures of the french revolution, i would like to know more about his life and his role in the french revolution. Robespierre and the popular movement of 17934, past and present, no. Role of maximilien robespierre during the french revolution. The book gave a lot of historical information about the french revolution and the role robespierre had in it. This masterful biography combines new research into robespierres. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your.
He had once been a fairly straightforward liberal thinker reputedly he slept with a copy of rousseaus social contract at his side. But what turned a shy young lawyer into the living embodiment of. What was the significance of maximilien robespierre in the. The best books on the french revolution five books expert. Robespierre and the french revolution paperback april 17 2007 by ruth scurr author 4.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A riveting biography of the french revolutions most enigmatic figure that restores him to his pivotal historic place since his execution by guillotine in july. Rousseau, robespierre, and the french revolution james read florida atlantic university there is little doubt that the french revolution would not have and could not have taken place without the ideas expressed by the enlightenment philosophers, which, of course, influenced and motivated some of the revolutions most notable political leaders. Judicious, balanced, and admirably clear at every point. The 1775 engraving, a typical portrait of the king at the time, was reworked in 1792 to record the kings donning of the pyrigian cap during the invasion of the tuilleries palace by parisian sansculottes. Robespierre and the french revolution collier book. While his short career in politics was long enough to. Written with epic sweep, full of nuance and insight, fatal purity is a fascinating portrait of a man who identified with the revolution to the point of. Maximilien robespierre expressed the prevailing adoring opinion of the great man. Dantons role in the onset of the revolution has been disputed. He was a radical jacobin leader and one of the principal figures in the french revolution. After the genius and idealism of mirabeau, danton, and others who had created the revolution, it fell into the hands of an unscrupulous and sententious bourgeois lawyer who had.
The revolution controversy was a pamphlet war set off by the publication of a discourse on the love of our country, a speech given by richard price to the revolution society on 4 november 1789, supporting the french revolution as he had the american revolution, and saying that patriotism actually centers around loving the people and. In the latter months of 1793 he came to dominate the committee of public safety, the principal organ of the revolutionary government during the reign of terror, but in 1794 he was overthrown and executed. Robespierre became associated with jacobin club and in april 1790, he was elected its president. A thorough and wellwritten account of robespierres lifea solid contribution to the scholarship of this key figure of the french revolution.
Maximilien robespierre, radical jacobin leader and one of the principal figures in the french revolution. Robespierre the fool as revolutionary inside the french. But once the tide began to turn in favor of the french revolutionary army, which chalked up a remarkable string of victories on the battlefield, then it became much harder for robespierre and the. No sooner were his severed remains collected, tossed into an unmarked grave and covered with quicklime than the struggle began to grasp the connection between robespierres personality and his role in the revolution. A riveting biography of the french revolution s most enigmatic figure that restores him to his pivotal historic place. Though remembered as a ruthless tyrant, he was once acclaimed as the nations selfless champion of liberty. For a very long time, what professor soboul likes to describe as the classical interpretation provided the frame of reference for all the arguments. See all 11 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. The french revolution is one of the most important perhaps still the historical event of all time. Francois furets book, which appeared in france in 1978, reopens the debate on the nature and significance of the french revolution. Danton is a central character in romanian playwright camil petrescu s play of the same name. The best books on the french revolution five books. Maximilien robespierre is one of the bestknown and most influential figures of the french revolution.
Robespierre and the french revolution read an excerpt of this book. Rousseau is the one man who, through the loftiness of his soul and the grandeur of his character, showed himself worthy of the role of teacher of mankind. He became increasingly popular in the club as well as among the masses for his attacks on the monarchy. Kids learn about the biography of maximilien robespierre from the french revolution including his early life, entering politics, the jacobins, gaining power, the reign of. A riveting biography of the french revolutions most enigmatic figure that restores him to his pivotal historic place. Even after the american revolution the celebrated jefferson barely made it into office as president between two party regulars. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Robespierre and the french revolution new by scurr, ruth isbn.
These popular workbooks are guaranteed to not only teach fascinating history, but to increase reading comprehension, vocabulary knowledge, and writing skills. List of books and articles about maximilien robespierre. Was he a bloodthirsty charlatan or the only true defender of revolutionary ideals. In the latter months of 1793 he came to dominate the committee of public safety.
The revolution overthrew the monarchy, established a republic, catalyzed violent periods of political turmoil, and finally culminated in a dictatorship under napoleon who brought many of. But, the narration was filled with too many comments by the author explaining how his action or a certain context might had an impact on the reign of terror and on france. Early in his life, robespierre greatly struggled with harming anyone. Mcphee living the french revolution 17891799, 2006, etc. Early in the french revolution, he criticized the individuals whom promoted violent means. Thompson was a leading authority on the history of the french revolution. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. This workbook, seventeen pages in length, serves as a perfect supplement to a students study of the history of the french revolution, and functions equally well as a standalone unit. Robespierre emerges less as the man who ruined the revolution than as a man the revolution ruinedby the time of his death in 1794 he was an ailing exhausted husk very different from the brighteyed, committed and courageous politician of 1789. Slavoj zizek is a slovenian philosopher and cultural critic. The monstrous puzzle of the revolution books the guardian. He won admiration for his abilities, but his austerity and dedication isolated him from easy companionship.
Robespierre and his three younger siblings were brought up by diverse relatives after their father dramatically lost his way in life after the death of his wife in childbirth in 1767. The cover of this book, for instance, features a striking engraving of the french revolution of 1848. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. Robespierre and the french revolution reprint by scurr, ruth isbn. The french revolution was a watershed event in modern european history that began in 1789 and ended in the late 1790s with the ascent of napoleon bonaparte. Maximilien robespierre biography workbook student handouts.
As maximilien robespierre was taken through the streets of paris to the guillotine on the morning of. This is quite the calmest and least abusive history of the revolution you will ever read. Since his execution by guillotine in july 1794, maximilien robespierre has been contested terrain for historians, at once the most notorious leader of. In danton, the 1983 biopic based on the life the french revolutionary, the eponymous hero, standing on the threshold of execution, says that everything might go on fine if i could give my legs to that cripple couthon and my balls to robespierre. Norman hampson friend robespierre lrb 5 august 1982. By making himself the embodiment of virtue and of total commitment, robespierre took control of the revolution in its most radical and bloody phase. Since his execution by guillotine in july 1794, maximilien robespierre has been contested terrain for historians, at once the most notorious leader of the french revolution and the least comprehensible. Maximilien robespierre was one of the foremost figures of the french revolution, a superenergetic and remarkable man who was an eloquent speaker, writer and leader. He was instrumental in the period of the revolution commonly known as the reign of terror, which ended with his arrest and execution in 1794. It graphically describes the horrors of the french revolution and gives us vivid descriptions of all of the main participants in that orgy of blood, horror and death.
Francois crouzet collected many interesting details from french historians dealing with robespierre. The full book is available in hardcover or e book at amazon. Against the dramatic backdrop of the french revolution, historian ruth scurr tracks robespierre s evolution from provincial lawyer to devastatingly efficient revolutionary leader, righteous and paranoid in equal measure. Virtue and terror by maximilien robespierre, paperback.
All well and good, except that eric hazans subject is the french revolution of 1789. The title of this book is robespierre and it was written by peter mcphee. Click download or read online button to get robespierre the fool as revolutionary inside the french revolution book now. It was published by yale university press and has a total of 352 pages in the book. Rousseau died in 1778 when france was at the height of its enlightenment. Many books have been written about it, but i loved your comment, in your presidential address to the american historical association that every great interpreter of the french revolution and there have been many such has found the event ultimately mystifying. This biography of robespierre, the incorruptible, reads like a spellbinding novel, only that this book recounts more than the life of robespierre.
Robespierre and the popular movement of 17934, past and present. Rousseau and the french revolution stephen hicks, ph. Robespierre embodied the grandest ideas of the french revolution as well as its most contemptible acts. George couthon, a member of the committee of public safety, the dictatorial body that presided over the reign of terror, was indeed a cripple. Lorem ipsum dolor nam faucibus, tellus nec varius faucibus. Apr 17, 2007 judicious, balanced, and admirably clear at every point. Mcphees interpretation will surprise and intrigue in equal measure. The french revolution is a subject ive studied before, as a student, but being years ago now and not at a deeply complex level, i felt my knowledge wanting, particularly when discussing maximilien robespierre.
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