The Days of the French Revolution

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Summary: A Turbulent Period of History
Review: "The Days Of The French Revolution" tells the story of this turbulent period of French History. Reading like a novel, Hibbert imparts information while holding our interest. Here we meet the leading figures of the Revolution, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Robespierre, Napoleon and many others. While reading, we agonize over the fateful decision of the Royal Family to flee Paris and to seek rescue from foreign powers and cringe at the tragic descent into the Terror. We read narratives, speeches, letters and diaries of those who made and lived through the Revolution. From the reading of this book I have a much better understanding of the course of the Revolution and an appreciation for the forces which impelled it as well as the tragic and seemingly irrational paths which it followed. If there is any shortfall it is the concentration on events in Paris to the virtual exclusion of events in the rest of the country. I am glad that I read this book.

Rating:
Summary: will do
Review: A very comprehensive and interesting guide of the French Revolution. However, many of the terms employed for the 'revolution lingo' are left unexplained. Overall, the book offers a vignette style of narration that is appealing to all age groups. For the Revolution scholar however, a more detailed accompaniment would certainly help but the book serves a useful function in igniting interest in the subject. Perfect for the casual reader.

Rating:
Summary: Good intro to the French Revolution
Review: Christopher Hibbert's book is an excellent introduction to the French Revolution. He relates the important events and personalities without the pedantic stuffiness of an academic history. With very readable prose and a reasonable length (less than 400 pages), this book is ideal for the average person (read non-history major) who wants to learn about one of the most important events in recent centuries.

Rating:
Summary: A Fine Narrative
Review: Christopher Hibbert's fine narrative about the French Revolution is an excellent way for the general reader to learn the essentials of the keystone event of modern European history. But for the French Revolution there would have been no Napoleon. But for the French Revolution there probably would never have been a Russian Revolution. But those are not the themes which play in the background of Mr. Hibbert's most-readable history. He lays out the panorama of the Days of the French Revolution in such such a way that one who wishes to know more about that great event can read about it -- cover-to-cover and then put this book down with satisfaction. At last the general reader will fully understand what is meant by "Thermidor", will sympathize with the unfortunate Louis XVI and come away with a new appreciation of his beautiful and misunderstood wife, Marie Antoinette.

The complicated personality of the tragic Robespierre enters the drama at the time appointed by history and Mr. Hibbert gives this austere, no-nonsense rascal his proper place at center stage. There is enough of a biography of him to round him out so that the reader can reach some conclusions as to how the Days of Terror came about under Robespierre's auspices.

The days of the French Revolution teemed with a multitude of monumental historical events crammed into a mere few years. Royalty was executed, wars were fought, governments fell, freedoms simmered, flourished and faded; all was turmoil. It is a wonder in this avalanche of world-shaking events how any writer could manage to sort them out and play them before the reader's eyes so engrossingly. But Mr. Hibbert does it and he does it well in this book that I can highly recommend.

Rating:
Summary: Great Intro
Review: Coming into reading this book I knew relatively little about the tempetuous and chaotic days of the French Revolution. This book helped me further de-mythicize my understanding of the Revolution and to make more sense out of what happened between 1789 and 1800 in France. In such heady times where a king and queen were beheaded, the power holders were turned on their heads, French were chopping people to pieces and walking around Paris with heads impaled on spears, and the new government took to killing unnecessarily. This book gave me evidence that civilization is only skin deep and that what exists is not necessarily what will exist in future and is what ought to be. A great book.

Rating:
Summary: a good introduction and excellent narrative
Review: Hibbert's "Days of the French Revolution" provides an outstanding introduction to the turbulent and violent decade of the French Revolution. All the major players, major events and significant decisions are recounted in a riveting writing style that keeps a good pace so as not to be too dry or boring.. While it lacks the depth and detail of other books on the subject, it is my first recommendation to those interested in the event.

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Summary: The October Days
Review: I am most pleased to read that the updated edition of this book has the correct month listed for the Days of the Market Women as OCTOBER 1789, as opposed to August that was cited throughout the first edition in 1980. I was amazed that this mistake was made by such a noted historian. Otherwise, it is a fine depiction that the everyday reader will find enjoyable and informative.

Rating:
Summary: Good Place to Start
Review: I read this book several years after reading Simon Schama's "Citizens," which is one of my favorite all time books. This book is much more of an overview of the French Revolution than Schama's book and is probabably a better place to start. While "Citizens" does more to place the French Revolution in the context of its time, Hibbert's book is more of a traditional narrative history. Still, its well written and extremely entertaining (like most of Hibbert's books) and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to get a good overview of the people and events of the French Revolution.

Rating:
Summary: Good Place to Start
Review: I read this book several years after reading Simon Schama's "Citizens," which is one of my favorite all time books. This book is much more of an overview of the French Revolution than Schama's book and is probabably a better place to start. While "Citizens" does more to place the French Revolution in the context of its time, Hibbert's book is more of a traditional narrative history. Still, its well written and extremely entertaining (like most of Hibbert's books) and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to get a good overview of the people and events of the French Revolution.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I started reading this book not really knowing what to expect. I didn't think I would like it because I really didn't know much about the subject. Once I had read a couple chapters though I was hooked on the book. There are so many twist in turns during the revolution that it is amazing. This is truly a fascinating period of history. Christopher Hibbert does a great job narrating the times. Excellent book.