A Critical Dictionary of the French Revolution

by Mona Ozouf and François Furet

Book Overview

Two centuries later, the French Revolution--that extraordinary event that founded modern democracy--continues to give rise to a reevaluation of essential questions. The ambition of this magnificent volume is not only to present the reader with the research of a wide range of international scholars on those questions, but also to bring one into the heart of the issues still under lively debate.

Its form is as original as its goal: neither...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0674177282
• ISBN13: 9780674177284
• Release Date: September 1989
• Publisher: Belknap Press
• Length: 1120 Pages
• Weight: 4.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.6" x 6.8" x 10.4"

Customer Reviews

An intellectual interpretation.

Although called a "Critical Dictionary", this book does a remarkable job of describing the intellectual attributes of the French Revolution and comparing it with the ideals of the American Revolution. The author adroitly traces the origins of the French Revolution to the Enlightenment legacy and the age of reason. The well-organized chapters elucidate the principle participants, including Robes Pierre, who helped stabilize the Revolution. In fact, this book explains that the Revolution attacked inequality. Consequently, the peasants revolted and the bourgeoisie seized political control. Additionally, the philosophical anecdotes of Hegel and Marx enriched my reading enjoyment. Moreover, the chapter about the American Revolution clarified the uniqueness of the French Revolution in its own conceptual framework. Overall, A Critical Dictionary of the French Revolution represents essential reading for a student or general reader interested in the French Revolution.