analysis of the historiography of thesubject, and reviews the range of literature produced around therecent Bicentenary. Insisting that the French Revolution had animportant social dimension, Alan Forrest demonstrates that therevolutionaries, even the most extreme of them, were committed toan ordered society. He argues that in destroying the politicalinstitutions and the corporate structures of the Ancien Regime,they were conscious of the need to invent a new order of their own,one that would be consistent with their ideology. Chapters focus on the initial crisis of 1789, on the political andsocial experiments of the revolutionary years, and on the impact ofwar and counter-revolution. The study covers the period up to 1799,looking forward where appropriate to the Napoleonic Empire. Theauthor's succinct and penetrating overview of events ensures thatThe French Revolution will be welcomed by all students ofthis fascinating and turbulent period in European history.

Hide more