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mvatza57's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
grantmcme's review
4.0
There was a lot more French in the French Revolution than I would have thought ... Foreign languages aside, I had no idea how turbulent the French Revolution actually was. Before I started reading this I thought the aristocrats got beheaded and that was that. Who would have thought that Robespierre and "The Terror" lasted for so long! Revolutions are never easy or quick and no one seems to get what they want. Especially not the poor...
thedandybrambler's review
challenging
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
3.0
A concise attempt at an apolitical history of a revolution that has been endlessly politicised. A very useful overview to the events leading up to the revolution of 1789 that continues a clear narration of French revolutionary history right up to the fall of Robespierre. The book is less detailed on the policies of the directory but draws an interesting thesis on the long term impacts of the Revolution right up to modern day France. This was a difficult read but felt like a managable level of academic history reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, War, Classism, Deportation, Genocide, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, and Police brutality
jvanwago's review against another edition
informative
4.0
Davidson omitted any discussion on how the American Revolution inspired the French Revolution.
Good length for a primer without getting too in depth.
Good length for a primer without getting too in depth.
nickbyers's review
4.0
An excellent history of the French Revolution, its people, the forces that caused it and its aftermath. I will say one knock against it is that I don't think it does expect a level of knowledge of European and French history, so not for someone new to the subject.
tale_reader's review
dark
informative
slow-paced
4.25
Very much enjoyed this read. I have had this book on my shelf for years and was waiting for the right time to pick it up, and now was that time! I would say it is a very easy read going into, not to heavy like some other history books, provides a lot of unknown insight (as being new to the topic) and enjoyed that structure of the book. Only con would be that some parts I would be a little confused but for the most part is a great introduction and would highly recommend to anyone who wants to dip their toes in to french history or just history books.