Lectures on the French Revolution

by John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton (Editor)

Delivered at Cambridge University between 1895 and 1899, Lectures on the French Revolution is a distinguished account of the entire epochal chapter in French experience by one of the most remarkable English historians of the nineteenth century. In contrast to Burke a century before, Acton leaves condemnation of the French Revolution to others. He provides a disciplined, thorough, and elegant history of the actual events of the bloody episode - in sum, as thorough a record as could be constructed in his time of the actual actions of the government of France during the Revolution. There are twenty-two essays, commencing with “The Heralds of the Revolution,” in which Acton presents a taxonomy of the intellectual ferment that preceded - and prepared - the Revolution. An important appendix explores “The Literature of the Revolution.” Here Acton offers assessments of the accounts of the Revolution written during the late eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries by, among others, Burke, Guizot, and Taine.

Genres: History, France, French Revolution, Politics, 18th Century, Essays

422 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1910

About the author

John Emerich Edward Dalberg-Acton, 1st Baron Acton, and usually referred to simply as Lord Acton, was an English historian.

Reviews

[Szplug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who writes like this anymore? Lord Acton's mellifluously measured, sober prose is Whigging me out. An immensely and impressively wise, learned, considered, and impartial reflection upon the French Revolution—the best I've ever encountered, if truth be told (well, Carlyle is right up there, from what I've read, but it is of an entirely different timber...)

[Tom Newman · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a confusing mess was the French Revolution. This book does not help. It assumes you have a good understanding of the history. Without that, it is very difficult to follow.