The book analyzes French society before the French Revolution — the so-called "Ancien Régime" — and investigates the causes and forces that brought...
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Oct 19, 2007
علی
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The book analyzes French society before the French Revolution, investigates the causes and forces that brought about the Revolution, develops his main theory about continuity in which he states that even though the French tried to disassociate themselves from the past and from the old regime; they continued with the same powerful central government. It was essentially a movement for political and social reform to increase the power and jurisdiction of the central authority. The Revolution never
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Jul 21, 2011
Jennifer
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So I always had a feeling that I would like de Tocqueville. I am not so much of a historian that I want to get into the finer points of his argument; as in all things related to 18th century France and my little project I am just looking to get a feel. But I am struck, as I have been in many ways since undertaking my little exploration, at just how many aspects of this time and place seem to resonate with me here and now. We have not come as far as I thought.
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Aug 22, 2011
Edward
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Tocqueville is most known for his "Democracy in America", and I find it unfortunate that this work languishes in its shadow, as it truly is a wonderful work of political science. Tocqueville had managed to create a fresh examination of the Revolution while it was still in living memory. Indeed, coming for a noble background whose family was victimized by the Terror, and a friend of Legitimists or Ultraroyalists, Tocqueville manages to be a neutral perspective on a controversial event t
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Feb 18, 2010
Dave
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While it is not 'Democracy in America' (though I have never read the unabridged version of that work) it is very good. His analysis seems to coincide with Schama's at key points, such as that the Revolution was not caused so much by a stodgy system as too much change within a system that could not really contain it. Also illuminating was his theme that the Revolution was a reversion to familiar patterns of government set by Louis XIV, as opposed to the more progressive, though somewhat bumblin
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Dec 16, 2011
Erik
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Certainly one of the very greatest works of political philosophy, in some ways better than Democracy in America. Tocqueville was fascinated by the phenomenon of social equality after centuries of feudalism, and he goes so far as to say that the outward political revolutions and charters of the new post Enlightenment order were already essentially complete, as social conditions, before these revolutions ever took place. The preparation for the French Revolution was simply that "men (notice:
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Jan 11, 2010
Kit
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What I got from this book (main points on top of my head):
- French Revolution is overrated
- The guys who spearheaded the revolution didn't have a clue of what's going on in French politics
- Not much changes took place contrary to popular thinking
- Things were actually getting better, but the French took advantage of a government lapse
- How the all irritable French bureaucracy is born
- Why France is secular
- etc
This book helped me figur More...
- French Revolution is overrated
- The guys who spearheaded the revolution didn't have a clue of what's going on in French politics
- Not much changes took place contrary to popular thinking
- Things were actually getting better, but the French took advantage of a government lapse
- How the all irritable French bureaucracy is born
- Why France is secular
- etc
This book helped me figur More...
Sep 05, 2011
Patrick
rated it:
Tocqueville builds up a very persuasive argument in this book. According to him, excessive government centralization in Paris and a tax system riddled with special exceptions for the aristocracy and government workers eventually drove the ascending middle class to demand reform. It is a shame that he was not able to write the planned second part of the book and explain why the revolution went so horribly awry. Still, this is a tight, focused, well-researched book that should be a model for hi
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Oct 11, 2009
Sarah
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This book is about the causes of the French Revolution; there is also some explanation of why the French Revolution took the course it did. The analysis of the French Revolution is fascinating; I strongly recommend this book to anyone interested in history.
Jul 17, 2010
Very well written and argued treatment of the leadup to the French Revolution.
Jun 23, 2010
The Old Regime and the French Revolution by Alexis de Tocqueville (1983)
Sep 28, 2008
Andrew
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This is a great look at the causes of the French Revolution. De Tocqueville takes the reader back into French history and points out the many signs of revolution to come. It may be helpful to know a little about the French Revolution before reading this text.
Apr 17, 2008
Bart
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A great (and objective!) study of the roots of the revolution in French society. For those who truly want to understand what happened in 1789, de Tocqueville's writings are a MUST.
Jul 21, 2007
Elliott
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I think Tocqueville is too old & specific to a time in history to critique. I'm not saying that out of admiration or disdain of him either.
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