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The Coming of the French Revolution (Princeton Classics, 19) Paperback – October 6, 2015

by Georges Lefebvre (Author), R. R. Palmer (Translator, Preface), Timothy Tackett (Introduction)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 72 ratings
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The classic book that restored the voices of ordinary people to our understanding of the French Revolution

The Coming of the French Revolution remains essential reading for anyone interested in the origins of this great turning point in the formation of the modern world. First published in 1939 on the eve of the Second World War and suppressed by the Vichy government, this classic work explains what happened in France in 1789, the first year of the French Revolution. Georges Lefebvre wrote history “from below”—a Marxist approach—and in this book he places the peasantry at the center of his analysis, emphasizing the class struggles in France and the significant role they played in the coming of the revolution.

Eloquently translated by the historian R. R. Palmer and featuring an introduction by Timothy Tackett that provides a concise intellectual biography of Lefebvre and a critical appraisal of the book, this Princeton Classics edition offers perennial insights into democracy, dictatorship, and insurrection.

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Previous page
  1. Print length
    280 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Princeton University Press
  4. Publication date
    October 6, 2015
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 1 x 7 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0691168466
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0691168463
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Simply the best introduction to the study of the French Revolution available anywhere." ― Nation

"A pleasure to read. . . . Lefebvre sets forth clearly the many causes of that insurrection and explains the influences exerted by the various classes and factions--the nobles and the clergy, on the one side, and the bourgeoisie and the peasantry on the other." ― New Yorker

"Much more than a history of 1789. . . . [A] synthesis, conveying a philosophy of the Revolution as a whole, such as could be written only by a seasoned scholar." ― American Historical Review

Review

“Simply the best introduction to the study of the French Revolution available anywhere.”—The Nation

“A pleasure to read. . . . Lefebvre sets forth clearly the many causes of that insurrection and explains the influences exerted by the various classes and factions—the nobles and the clergy, on the one side, and the bourgeoisie and the peasantry on the other.”—The New Yorker

“Much more than a history of 1789. . . . [A] synthesis, conveying a philosophy of the Revolution as a whole, such as could be written only by a seasoned scholar.”—American Historical Review

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Princeton University Press; Revised edition (October 6, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 280 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0691168466
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0691168463
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 1 x 7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 72 ratings

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Georges Lefebvre

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
72 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

LifeIsGrand
5.0 out of 5 stars Want to know the future? Read this book
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2020
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This book knocked me out. I am a history buff and really enjoy deep reads. This book really brought me to mentally experience that place and time. It clearly explained how the cards lined up for the eventual insanity of the terror.
2 people found this helpful
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Lobato1
5.0 out of 5 stars New perspective of the French Revolution.
Reviewed in the United States on July 11, 2012
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French Revolution explained versus the English pro-monarchy historians that have never explained how the French nobility's connivery defeated the Republic a couple of decades after 1789 & much less have these historians explained the Fronde revolt.

Best Regards
One person found this helpful
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coffee cat
4.0 out of 5 stars The French Revolution written by a distinguished French historian.
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2015
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Extremely thorough and detailed. Lefebvre describes the wealth and structure of French society before the revolution and how the poverty endured by 98% of society almost inevitably led to the revolution. A little dry but heavy on facts and details. Sometimes mis-labeled as leftist or socialist because it describes the suffering of the poor and doesn't ignore their contribution in order to describe the actions of the king and nobility and the nouveau riche.
6 people found this helpful
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sihuaqiang
5.0 out of 5 stars a good book
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2018
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good for me
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Oscar Patron
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2015
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Came in on time. Just as described
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Jesse Rouse
5.0 out of 5 stars Very thorough, but a little hard to follow
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2009
Lefebvre's account of the coming of the French Revolution has stood the test of time, and is just as important now as when it came out in the 1950s. Lefebvre perceptively identifies not one, but four separate revolutions which built upon each other and created what we now call the French Revolution. He clearly shows that the nobles began the revolt in an attempt to gain more power over the king. The revolution quickly took a different turn when the bourgeois jumped in and attempted to gain some power for themselves, which caused the whole endeavor to plummet into chaos as the general populace and peasants appropriated the revolution for themselves. As far as describing the different streams flowing together to form the Revolution, Lefebvre succeeds brilliantly.

Unfortunately, there are several problems which prevent this from being a great introduction to the French Revolution. First, Lefebvre is not always a clear writer, and is very hard to follow from time to time, though part of this problem may be because the english edition I am reviewing is translated from the original french. Second, he assumes a detailed knowledge of the philosophical and political situation at the time of the Revolution. If you don't already have an adequate knowledge of this, it will be a very hard to keep up with what he is talking about. The most annoying problem, however, is the vast number of names Lefebvre throws around. He constantly says so-and-so joined such-and-such a group or did such-and-such a thing, and he seems to think that we will realize that this is somehow important. Unfortunately, the average reader will have no idea who the majority of the people he named were or what their importance was. I, for example, know the major figures (Robespierre, La Fayette, Danton, etc.), but he names vast quantities of minor figures I have never even heard of and assumes that I will know who they are and what their significance is. The same is true of places. Most people will know the major locations, but in many of his descriptions of where things were happening he refers to small towns that the average reader can hardly be expected to know about. The former problem could be rectified by including a glossary in the back with a listing of important persons and their major contributions, and the latter problem could be easily fixed by including a decent map with the locations he discusses marked on it.

The Coming of the French Revolution is certainly a good book, and is well worth reading. However, because of the issues listed above, I would definitely recommend starting somewhere else if you want an good introduction to the topic.
16 people found this helpful
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Minchul
5.0 out of 5 stars A real Classic!
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2011
The kind of classic that lasts forever. Lefebvre leads in simple sentences filled with passion. The paragraphs come together in deep logics. Great reading.
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Mark Robinson
3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting!
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2018
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A Marxist take on the events leading up to The French Revolution. Judge it for yourself!
One person found this helpful
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