Simon schama, professor of history at harvard university, discusses his recent work, citizens. The french revolution is essentially much more interesting than schama has presented it in citizens. Suffice it to say it was a mass slaughter, with a grim lithurgy and that led to more tragical consequences. A chronicle of the french revolution is the most authoritative social, cultural. Citizens is a truly wonderful example of narrative historical writing a tremendous performance, to borrow a favourite expression of simon schama. An interpretation of dutch culture in the golden age, offers an epic new history of the french revolution in honor of this years bicentenary. Mar 15, 1989 citizens a chronicle of the french revolution by simon schama illustrated. A chronicle of the french revolution is the most authoritative social, cultural, and narrative history of the french revolution.
The events have been retold by many historians ive read before, and without exception, they all do a much better and rousing job of it than schama has done. What is most impressive about schamas book is how readable it is. Citizens chronicle of the french revolution schama simon. A chronicle of the french revolution is the most authoritative social, cultural and narrative history of the french revolution ever produced. The author prefers a more oldfashioned interpretation of the french revolution, which presents the revolution as a drama and focuses on the characters that determine the unravelling of the plot. The french revolution created turmoil across the whole of europe, via a series of events which continue to captivate and inspire massive debate.
The best part of citizens is the wealth of context it provides in explaining what made the revolution happen and how french society was affected. One of the great landmarks of modern history publishing, simon schama s citizens. A chronicle of the french revolution is a book by the historian simon schama. A chronicle of the french revolution by simon schama. Instead of a dying old regime, schama presents an ebullient country, vita. For the best and the worst of reasons, the french revolution has been chopped to bits. The terror, declared schama in the book, was merely 1789 with a higher body count. In this new york times bestseller, awardwinning author simon schama presents an ebullient country, vital and inventive, infatuated with novelty and technologya strikingly fresh view of louis xvis france. Simon schama points out that louis xvis france was a much more progressive and dynamic society than the name ancien regime esuggests. Citizens is a complete chronicle of the french revolution with heavy emphasis on the changing values of 18th century society. One of the great landmarks of modern history publishing, simon schamas citizens a chronicle of the french revolution is the most authoritative social, cultural and narrative history of the french revolution ever produced.
Since these are things were take for granted and at face value, we are taught since high school that the revolution was a source for good in the world and that anything in history that does not lead to a tolerant, democratic society is wrong. It is an unapologetic narrative history and it organizes its complex story with a skill that should it might be the case that any work of history with literary merit tells us as much about the time of the author as the time of the subject. The author is obviously highly knowledgeable about the french revolution, so much so in fact that he too often spend 15 or 20 pages to decorticate an event or a social fact that could have been easily explained in a single paragraph. A chronicle of the french revolution is the most authoritative social, cultural, and narrative history of the french revolution ever produced. Citizens is also obviously a product of the late 1980s in its scepticism towards economic regulations. Citizens is a very well written history of the french revolution covering a massive amount of events, details and personalities with a good deal of background to boot. A chronicle of the french revolution is the most authoritative social, cultural, and narrative history. Robespierre used to chide his moderate opponents of wanting a revolution without a revolution. Utilizing daytoday accounts of people ordinary and not so ordinary, presenting them in the highly accessible manner. A chronicle of the french revolution find, read and cite all the research you need on researchgate.
The third estate is the people and the people is the foundation of the state. A chronicle of the french revolution 1st edition ebook, preface this is history on the grand scalean ambitious portrait of one of the most remarkable episodes in modern history. A chronicle of the french revolution is a book by the historian simon schama, published in 1989, the bicentenary of the french revolution. A chronicle of the french revolution by simon schama, cbe online at alibris. It was published in 1989, the bicentenary of the french revolution, and like many other works in that year, was highly critical of its legacy. Instead of the dying old regime, schama presents an ebullient country, vital and inventive, infatuated with novelty and technologya strikingly fresh view of. Simon schama explores the french revolution in terms of the vitality and infatuation with technology that motivated french citizenry toward change and the conflicting, strained economics frustrating their visions. Citizens a chronicle of the french revolution by simon. Citizens a chronicle of the french revolution by simon schama alfred a.
May 25, 1989 and simon schamas history of the french revolution, citizens, has literary merit. Citizens a chronicle of the french revoution by simon schama. The french revolution gave rise to democracy, human rights and so on. And simon schamas history of the french revolution, citizens, has literary merit. Citizens chronicle french revolution by simon schama. A chronicle of the french revolution paperback march 17, 1990 by simon schama author.
A list of lyrics, artists and songs that contain the term citizens. A chronicle of the french revolution is the most authoritative social, cultural, and narrative history of the french. Instead of the dying old regime, schama presents an ebullient country, vital and inventive, infatuated with novelty and technology a strikingly fresh view of louis xvis france. A chronicle of the french revolution schama, simon on. Once hefted, however, and well balanced on lap, knee or chest, citizens will prove hard to. Simon schama citizens a chronicle of the french revolution free ebook download as pdf file. Comte dantraigues as quoted in an excerpt from citizens. He discusses and contrasts the outcome of the french revolution. Nobles and clergy are merely political categories while according to the unchangeable laws of nature the people is everything. One of the great landmarks of modern history publishing, simon schamas citizens a chronicle of the french revolution is the most authoritative social, cultural and. The old regime, far from being moribund on the eve of the french revolution, bristled with signs of dynamism and energy, writes schama in this sprawling, provocative, sometimes infuriating chronicle t. Citizens a chronicle of the french revolution schama simon. Simon schama citizens a chronicle of the french revolution. This much heralded study provides a highly complex and extensive kaleidoscope of the french revolution and the events leading up to it.
One of the great landmarks of modern history publishing, simon schamas citizens. A chronicle of the french revolution by simon schama and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Citizens chronicle french revolution by simon schama, first edition abebooks. Schama historyharvard, author of patriots and liberators. Aug 05, 2004 one of the great landmarks of modern history publishing, simon schamas citizens a chronicle of the french revolutionis the most authoritative social, cultural and narrative history of the french revolution ever produced. Instead of the dying old regime, schama presents an ebullient country, vital and inventive, infatuated with novelty and technologya strikingly fresh view of louis xvis france.
Scribd is the worlds largest social reading and publishing site. I am no expert on the subject but i have read a few books on the french revolution including the oxford history of the french revolution and twelve who ruled. A chronicle of the french revolution is the most authoritative social, cultural and narrative history of the french revolution. Dec 05, 2000 this book, in compelling narrative, makes is clear that the french revolution actually began not with the clamor of the common people but with the blueblooded aristocracy and the high clergy of the ancien regime who had been enamored with the writings of jeanjacques rousseau and the views of the enlightenment i. Citizens chronicle french revolution by simon schama, first. Simon schama considers the fullest resources of social, cultural, and political history and includes accounts of private and public lives to help see the reality of the revolution.
He has amassed an enormous number offacts and details to. A chronicle of the french revolution 1st edition pdf. From one of the truly preeminent historians of our time, this is a landmark book chronicling the french revolution. Revolution in the netherlands 178018 and the embarrassment of riches.
A chronicle of the french revolution simon schama instead of the dying old regime, schama presents an ebullient country, vital and inventive, infatuated with novelty and technologya strikingly fresh view of louis xvis france. My reading of citizens was that schamas work is very much a francis fukuyamastyle reaganera, thatcherera take on the french revolution and there should be more critical response to this. A chronicle of the french revolution by simon schama 1991, hardcover at the best online prices at. Simon schama deftly refutes the contemporary notion that the french revolution represented an uprising of the oppressed poor against a decadent aristocracy and corrupt court. Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. As such, there is a vast range of literature on the topic, much of it involving specific methodologies and approaches. More links to crtical responses to citizens are needed here. History without bias is merely a chronicle, something which schama alludes to in his subtitle a chronicle of the french he dwells on the descent of the revolution into primal violence, which he argues gave it both its legitimacy and its energy. Citizens a chronicle of the french revolution written by simon schama, soft cover book published by vintage booksrandom house in 1990, 948 pages with numerous illustrations. Those who like to do their poring lying down will scarcely rush to take up this book. Citizens, a chronicle of the french revolution by simon. On the one hand, there is much to learn from the pages of citizens. One of the great landmarks of modern history publishing, simon schamas citizens a chronicle of the french revolutionis the most authoritative social, cultural and narrative history of the french revolution ever produced. A chronicle of the french revolution simon schama ebook one of the great landmarks of modern history publishing, simon schamas citizens.