French Revolution

Internationally renowned as the greatest authority on the French Revolution, Georges Lefebvre combined impeccable scholarship with a lively writing style. His masterly overview of the history of the French Revolution has taken its rightful place as the definitive account. A vivid narrative of events in France and across Europe is combined with acute insights into the underlying forces that created the dynamics of the revolution, as well as the personalities responsible for day-to-day decisions during this momentous period.

'This is more than a history of the French Revolution. It covers all of Europe during the revolutionary period…it also breaks new ground in its account of international relations, and sets the wars of intervention in their true light.' - A.J.P. Taylor, 'This is more than a history of the French Revolution. It covers all Europe during the revolutionary period, though events in France naturally take first place. It is particularly good on the social and intellectual background. Surprisingly enough, considering that Lefebvre was primarily an economic historian, it also breaks new ground in its account of international relations, and sets the wars of intervention in their true light. The French have a taste for what they call works of synthesis, great general summaries of received knowledge. We might call them textbooks, though of the highest level. At any rate, in its class, whether synthesis or textbook, this is one of the best ever produced.' - A.J.P. Taylor'Probably the greatest study ever written of the earthquake of 1789 and its aftermath.' - John Banville, Irish Times

Georges Lefebvre (1877-1959) French historian and member of the influential Annales School of historical thought. He held the chair of the French Revolution at the Sorbonne and was Director of the Annales Historiques de la Révolution Française.