The French Revolution

The product of a powerful and original mind, this is the history that introduced English-speaking people to the full meaning and tragedy of the French Revolution. First published in 1837, this pioneering work established Thomas Carlyle's reputation as a historian of enduring scholarly and popular appeal. His scrupulous attention to facts and details, combined with his eloquence, poetic style, and moral energy, convey a spirited sense of reality. The dramatic narrative is populated by vivid characterizations of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, Mirabeau, Danton, Robespierre, Lafayette, Marat, and other heroes and villains of the era. "No novelist has made his creations live for us more thoroughly than Carlyle has made the men of the French Revolution," observed George Eliot. In his company, the scenes of the Revolution are plainly visible, and the pages of this book offer a walk through the streets of 18th-century Paris with a well-informed guide. This abridged edition represents the best introduction to Carlyle's masterpiece for students and history buffs.