Französische Revolution und Volksbewegung: die Sansculotten. Die Sektionen von Paris im Jahre II

by Albert Soboul, Walter Markov (Editor), Claus Werner (Translator)

This book is...concerned with the study of the all-important social force within the revolutionary process in France between 1793 & 1794, during the period of the Jacobin dictatorship of Public Safety, that is to say, with the Paris of the sans-culottes, organized in 48 sections.
Foreword
Introduction: Bourgeois Revolution & Popular Activity
The Revolutionary Calendar
The Parisian Sections (map)
Historical Table of the Parisian Sections
1 Popular Masses & Militant Sans-Culottes: Their Attitudes & Social Composition
2 The Social Aspirations of the Paris Sans-Culottes
3 The Political Inclinations of the Parisian Sans-Culottes
4 Popular Politics in Action
5 The Political Organization of the Paris Sans-Culottes
6 Daily Life among Militant Sans-Culottes
Conclusion: On the Popular Movement & Revolutionary Government: A Summary of Political Contradictions
Index

Genres: History, France, French Revolution, Nonfiction

386 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

Reviews

[Lindz · Rating 4 out of 5]

To put it simply, this book is a classic. It is a bit outdated as Soboul's conclusions on the sans-culottes socioeconomic status is flawed. (Look at Richard Andrews response to this book) However, it is still noteworthy in it's detail of the radical group.

[Marvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wer näher sich mit den Sansculotten näher beschäftigen will, kommt an diesem Buch nicht vorbei!

[Garth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soboul analyzes the sans-culottes, a term for the political movement compromised of urban laborers, artisans, and shopkeepers who represented the most radical branch of political thought and action during the French Revolution.

Soboul argues that the sans-culottes were crucial to the victory of the wealthy bourgeoisie in their battle against the ancien regime, but that the sans-culottes were eventually sidelined themselves when their aspirations conflicted with the class interests of the bourgeoisie.

He posits that the sans-culottes were divided internally between what would later become the industrial proletariat - laborers, wage workers, etc. - and the small business owners, whose interests occasionally diverged.

As other commenters have said, some historical research here is a bit outdated. Soboul assumes that the reader has basic knowledge of the events and factions of the French Revolution. If you don't know the difference between Girondins and Montagnards, you should read an overview of the French Revolution before tackling this. A basic understanding of Marxist analysis is helpful, but not required.

Soboul relies heavily on primary sources, such as period era newspapers and meeting minutes, which are an interesting glimpse into the lives and thoughts of those in the 1790s.