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5th out of 160 books
—
32 voters
The Old Regime and the French Revolution
The book analyzes French society before the French Revolution — the so-called "Ancien Régime" — and investigates the causes and forces that brought about the Revolution. It is one of the major early historical works on the French Revolution.
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
October 1st 1955
by Anchor
(first published 1856)
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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...more
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.
" . . . experience teaches us that th...more
" . . . experience teaches us that th...more
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 that was st...more
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 bumbling...more
Rarement un livre ne m'aura autant éclairé sur mon propre pays, dont il est malaisé de comprendre l’esprit sans connaissances pratique de la justice, des lois et de l’administration, dont l’industrieuse étude s’accorde difficilement avec de courts loisirs. Si les parallèles avec l’étranger peuvent par le contraste des succès et des extravagances apporter quelques lumières au sujet, c’est surtout le secours de l’histoire qui fait apparaître le plus nettement l’enchaînement des raisons et des cons...more
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: men)...more
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 figure out the French a little more, and so speaking it's a worth...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 figure out the French a little more, and so speaking it's a worth...more
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 histo...more
Did the revolution really happen; that is the question that Alexis de Tocquevill asked. It is a question many of us asks when we witness a profound event. After something that profound it is natural to ask the questions like, "is there a purpose to this?" A great insight and contrast to the usual narratives.
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.
Quite pessimistic view on the inevitable human dark side exposing during the revolution. Have some great points in where, when and why a revolution may happen.
Amazing book, strongly recommended
by Piotr Pietrzak
Author of the prospects for humanitarian intervention in Syria
by Piotr Pietrzak
Author of the prospects for humanitarian intervention in Syria
really more like 4.5 stars
very interesting insights into everything from religion to government administration
very interesting insights into everything from religion to government administration
An excellent study n sociology of revolutionary mechanisms.
book 3 is excellent. tocqueville a more adroit analyst than burke.
Jan 04, 2011
Alex
marked it as to-read
susanna's rec
I found this more enjoyable and easier to read than Democracy in America. Tocqueville was a better writer by this time of his life and so was more concise. The political, cultural and historical insight is excellent, although I have read that modern historians - following the trail he blazed nearly single-handed, and dying - have refuted some of his findings. It is a real shame he died before he completed the second volume.
A very interesting look into the events political and social that lead up to the French Revolution. A must read!
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 Hendrix
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
french-revolution-napoleon,
france
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.
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.
Dec 29, 2012
Peter
added it
Very well written and argued treatment of the leadup to the French Revolution.
Part of Professor Guy's class. The only de Tocqueville I've ever read.
A must read for every historian.
UNE ANALYSE SOCIOLOGIQUE BRILLANTE DES INSTITUTIONS DE L'ANCIEN REGIME MONTRANT LES CORRELATIONS AVEC CELLES INSTAUREES APRES LA REVOLUTION,UNE VISION PROPHETIQUE DE LA DICTATURE DE LA MASSE ET DE SES ECUEILS,A MEDITER A L4EPOQUE DU REGNE DE LA DEMOCRATIE MEDIATIQUE, DES SONDAGES ET DU SARKOZISME
Jun 18, 2013
Priti Pokharel
marked it as to-read
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Alexis-Charles-Henri Clérel de Tocqueville (July 29, 1805 – April 16, 1859) was a French political thinker and historian best known for his Democracy in America (appearing in two volumes: 1835 and 1840) and The Old Regime and the Revolution (1856). In both of these works, he explored the effects of the rising equality of social conditions on the individual and the state in western societies.
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“They took over from the old order not only most of its customs, conventions, and modes of thought, but even those ideas which prompted our revolutionaries to destroy it; that, in fact, though nothing was further from their intentions, they used the debris of the old order for building up the new.”
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Jun 18, 2013 08:45am