A Social History of France in the 19th Century

by Christophe Charle, Charle Christophe, Matthew Jefferies

This essential overview for history students and general readers introduces and analyses the dynamics and relationships of the various social groups or classes of 19th century France - the nobility, bourgeoisie, elites, middle classes, and petty bourgeoisie. Professor Charles explores the hierarchies, cultural and economic influences, and the failures and successes of each social system. He integrates the many political, ideological and economic interpretations of the period - cited in a comprehensive bibliography - into a coherent and balanced contemporary view.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, France, Sociology

324 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Marguerite Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unless economic history is your thing, then don't go near this book. I needed some economic history though, in a social context, and this was exactly my thing. It's not a book you read from cover to cover - or at least I certainly didn't - but it's one you can easily find what you want, provided you know what it is that you want in the first place. A good one for the research shelves, I've no doubt I'll be going back to it.

[WIlliam Gerrard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a translation from the original French and as such I feel that sometimes reads a little strangely as an academic study in that it sometimes has an unusual technique for presenting ideas. It is quite rich in statistics and sometimes the data can be overwhelming. The book is neatly broken down into chapters which focus on the different effects during multiple time periods on the individual classes which compromised 19th century French society. It is clear that each of the revolutions that occurred during this period, even though often initially driven by the lower classes, all had a tendency to ultimately favour the bourgeois status quo among society's political elite. Even though peasants and working class often bore the brunt of society's effects, it is also apparent from the study that by the end of the century, in particular during the Belle Epoque, living conditions and standards had actually risen. France caught up with the rest of the Western world in terms of its industrialisation and a more cohesive labour movement gradually improved the lot of wage earners. France moved during three major periods during the nineteenth century. We have the July Monarchy, the Second Empire and the Third Republic. There are good regional examples of the different events that form the country's social history. I particularly enjoyed the details about various industrial regions such as the mining districts and also the variations across the land from North and South. It is a worthy read, even if sometimes this book does get bogged down in detail.