For two hundred years, the Terror has haunted the imagination of the West. The descent of the French Revolution from rapturous liberation into an orgy of apparently pointless bloodletting has been the focus of countless reflections on the often malignant nature of humanity and the folly of revolution. David Andress, a leading historian of the French Revolution, presents a radically different account of the Terror. In a remarkably vivid and page-turning work of history, he transports the reader from the pitched battles on the streets of Paris to the royal family's escape through secret passageways in the Tuileries palace, and across the landscape of the tragic last years of the Revolution. The violence, he shows, was a result of dogmatic and fundamentalist thinking: dreadful decisions were made by groups of people who believed they were still fighting for freedom but whose survival was threatened by famine, external war, and counter-revolutionaries within the fledging new state. Urgent questions emerge from Andress's trenchant reassessment: When is it right to arbitrarily detain those suspected of subversion? When does an earnest patriotism become the rationale for slaughter?
Combining startling narrative power and bold insight, "The Terror" is written with verve and exceptional pace-it is a superb popular debut from an enormously talented historian. David Andress, a leading historian of the French Revolution, is Reader in Modern European History at the University of Portsmouth and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. For two hundred years, the Terror has haunted the imagination of the West. The descent of the French Revolution from rapturous liberation into an orgy of apparently pointless bloodletting has been the focus of countless reflections on the often malignant nature of humanity and the folly of revolution.
David Andress presents a different account of the Terror, transporting the reader from the pitched battles on the streets of Paris to the royal family's escape through secret passageways in the Tuileries palace, and across the landscape of the tragic last years of the Revolution. The violence, he shows, was a result of dogmatic and fundamentalist thinking: dreadful decisions were made by groups of people who believe they were still fighting for freedom but whose survival was threatened by famine, external war, and counter-revolutionaries within the fledgling new state. Urgent questions emerge from Andress's trenchant reassessment: When is it right to arbitrarily detain those suspected of subversion? When does an earnest patriotism become the rationale for slaughter? "Andress writes as crisp and up-to-date an account of the Revolution's origins as I have read."--Adams Gopnik, "The New Yorker" "Andress writes as crisp and up-to-date an account of the Revolution's origins as I have read."--Adam Gopnik, "The New Yorker
""A vivid and powerful narrative of the years 1789-95 . . . The narrative is . . . fast-moving, from the storming of the Bastille to the execution of King Louis XVI to the paranoid politics of the National Convention."--David Gilmour, "The New York Times Book Review
""If you want to learn where the paranoid element in French politics comes from, read David Andress's "The Terror." Its cascade of intrigues and counterintrigues, purges, plots and counterplots--plus notable imaginary plots--provides the answer . . . He has written a readable, informative, depressing book--the former characteristics making the latter more palatable. He has turned a grim and intricate narrative of crime and foul play into a cautionary tale and an exciting adventure story that bears out the most famous line of Sartre's "No Exit": 'Hell is other people.'"--Eugen Weber, "The New Leader
""The first full-length study of the Terror, as a discrete phenomenon, to appear in many years (and the first serious one in English since R. R. Palmer's "Twelve Who Ruled" in 1941) . . . Andress has done a remarkably good job. He provides a brisk background, and then marches vigorously through events from the summer of 1792 to the summer of 1794: from the fall of the French monarchy to the fall of Robespierre and Saint-Just on the day that the new Republican calendar called the Ninth of Thermidor. He writes clearly and authoritatively, draws deftly on recent scholarship, and provides a sure guide through some of the most compressed and tangled political undergrowth in history."--David A. Bell, "The New Republic
""David Andress has given the reader a meticulous account of the Terror, in all its confusing twists and turns . . . While never failing to convey the drama and horrors of the Terror, Andress resists the temptation to exaggerate or turn drama into melodrama. He has written a book which stands beside Simon Schama's "Citizens.""--"The Times Literary Review
""This is the most authoritative treatment we are likely to have for many years."--William Doyle, "The Independent
""A tour de force. There is nothing to beat it."--Robert Stewart, "The Spectator
""In such alarming times, it is important to understand what exactly terror is, how it works politically, and what, if anything, can be done to combat it. The historian David Andress has made a serious contribution to this central subject of our times with an accessible account of the way terror overtook the French Revolution at the end of the 18th Century."--Ruth Scurr, "The Times "(London)
" A] well-researched, well-written, and highly revisionist work."--Andrew Roberts, "The Sunday Times" (London)
"Much important work on the French Terror has been done over the past 20 years by French, English, and American historians, and there is now a need to synthesize this into an accessible narrative history . . . This is David Andress's aim, and one which he generally achieves in this well-written and handsomely produced book." --Munro Price, "The Sunday Telegraph
"" A] meticulous, readable account of the French Revo
Industry Reviews
[A] well-researched, well-written, and highly revisionist work. "Countering the historiography of the last generation, including Simon Schama...Andress focuses not just on the killings but on the "grand political pronouncements, uprisings, and insurrections..".His focus on the Terror as the culmination of a complex historical process rather than an unprovoked outbreak of violence, makes for a bracing historical reassessment." --Publishers Weekly
" [A] well-researched, well-written, and highly revisionist work." --Sunday Times
"Andress, in this compelling study . . . scotches many myths, and gives some sobering parallels to contemporary society." --Scotland on Sunday
"Andress creates a vivid picture of the time... Amid today's issues of individual rights, legitimate limits of state power and demonization of enemies, the book has great relevance" --Waterstones Books Quarterly
"This is the most authoritative treatment we are likely to have for many years." --William Doyle, The Independent
"A tour de force. There is nothing to beat it." --Spectator
"[A] brilliantly deadpan account . . . one of the ironies that Andress skillfully reveals is that the law was denied, bit by bit, by the very men who had once been practicing it . . . he also shows how the feeble poisoned the righteous, revolutionary anger." --The Guardian
"In such alarming times, it is important to understand what exactly terror is, how it works politically, and what, if anything, can be done to combat it. The historian David Andress has made a serious contribution to this central subject of our times with an accessible account of the way terror overtook the French Revolution at the end of the 18th Century." --The Times
"It is a staggeringly complicated story that is just about ordered into a manageable narrative in Andress's even-tempered re-telling." --The Observer
"Much important work on the French Terror has been done over the past 20 years by French, English, and American historians, and there is now a need to synthesize this into an accessible narrative history for a wider public. This is David Andress's aim, and one which he generally achieves in this well-written and handsomely produced book." --Sunday Telegraph
"David Andress has given the reader a meticulous account of the Terror, in all its confusing twists and turns . . . While never failing to convey the drama and horrors of the Terror, Andress resists the temptation to exaggerate or turn drama into melodrama. He has written a book which stands beside Simon Schama's Citizens." --Times Literary Review
"Andress, in this compelling study, offers a far subtler, far more cogent approach to understanding the period, without ever becoming an apologist for the excesses." --Scotland on Sunday
"Andress creates a vivid picture of the time... Amid today's issues of individual rights, legitimate limits of state power and demonisation of enemies, the book has great relevance." --Waterstones Books Quarterly Countering the historiography of the last generation, including Simon Schama Andress focuses not just on the killings but on the "grand political pronouncements, uprisings, and insurrections" His focus on the Terror as the culmination of a complex historical process rather than an unprovoked outbreak of violence, makes for a bracing historical reassessment. Publishers Weekly
[A] well-researched, well-written, and highly revisionist work. Sunday Times
Andress, in this compelling study . . . scotches many myths, and gives some sobering parallels to contemporary society. Scotland on Sunday
Andress creates a vivid picture of the time Amid today's issues of individual rights, legitimate limits of state power and demonization of enemies, the book has great relevance Waterstones Books Quarterly
This is the most authoritative treatment we are likely to have for many years. William Doyle, The Independent
A tour de force. There is nothing to beat it. Spectator
[A] brilliantly deadpan account . . . one of the ironies that Andress skillfully reveals is that the law was denied, bit by bit, by the very men who had once been practicing it . . . he also shows how the feeble poisoned the righteous, revolutionary anger. The Guardian
In such alarming times, it is important to understand what exactly terror is, how it works politically, and what, if anything, can be done to combat it. The historian David Andress has made a serious contribution to this central subject of our times with an accessible account of the way terror overtook the French Revolution at the end of the 18th Century. The Times
It is a staggeringly complicated story that is just about ordered into a manageable narrative in Andress's even-tempered re-telling. The Observer
Much important work on the French Terror has been done over the past 20 years by French, English, and American historians, and there is now a need to synthesize this into an accessible narrative history for a wider public. This is David Andress's aim, and one which he generally achieves in this well-written and handsomely produced book. Sunday Telegraph
David Andress has given the reader a meticulous account of the Terror, in all its confusing twists and turns . . . While never failing to convey the drama and horrors of the Terror, Andress resists the temptation to exaggerate or turn drama into melodrama. He has written a book which stands beside Simon Schama's Citizens. Times Literary Review
Andress, in this compelling study, offers a far subtler, far more cogent approach to understanding the period, without ever becoming an apologist for the excesses. Scotland on Sunday
Andress creates a vivid picture of the time Amid today's issues of individual rights, legitimate limits of state power and demonisation of enemies, the book has great relevance. Waterstones Books Quarterly
" Countering the historiography of the last generation, including Simon Schama Andress focuses not just on the killings but on the "grand political pronouncements, uprisings, and insurrections" His focus on the Terror as the culmination of a complex historical process rather than an unprovoked outbreak of violence, makes for a bracing historical reassessment. "Publishers Weekly"
[A] well-researched, well-written, and highly revisionist work. "Sunday Times"
Andress, in this compelling study . . . scotches many myths, and gives some sobering parallels to contemporary society. "Scotland on Sunday"
Andress creates a vivid picture of the time Amid today's issues of individual rights, legitimate limits of state power and demonization of enemies, the book has great relevance "Waterstones Books Quarterly"
This is the most authoritative treatment we are likely to have for many years. "William Doyle, The Independent"
A tour de force. There is nothing to beat it. "Spectator"
[A] brilliantly deadpan account . . . one of the ironies that Andress skillfully reveals is that the law was denied, bit by bit, by the very men who had once been practicing it . . . he also shows how the feeble poisoned the righteous, revolutionary anger. "The Guardian"
In such alarming times, it is important to understand what exactly terror is, how it works politically, and what, if anything, can be done to combat it. The historian David Andress has made a serious contribution to this central subject of our times with an accessible account of the way terror overtook the French Revolution at the end of the 18th Century. "The Times"
It is a staggeringly complicated story that is just about ordered into a manageable narrative in Andress's even-tempered re-telling. "The Observer"
Much important work on the French Terror has been done over the past 20 years by French, English, and American historians, and there is now a need to synthesize this into an accessible narrative history for a wider public. This is David Andress's aim, and one which he generally achieves in this well-written and handsomely produced book. "Sunday Telegraph"
David Andress has given the reader a meticulous account of the Terror, in all its confusing twists and turns . . . While never failing to convey the drama and horrors of the Terror, Andress resists the temptation to exaggerate or turn drama into melodrama. He has written a book which stands beside Simon Schama's "Citizens." "Times Literary Review"
Andress, in this compelling study, offers a far subtler, far more cogent approach to understanding the period, without ever becoming an apologist for the excesses. "Scotland on Sunday"
Andress creates a vivid picture of the time Amid today's issues of individual rights, legitimate limits of state power and demonisation of enemies, the book has great relevance. "Waterstones Books Quarterly"" "Countering the historiography of the last generation, including Simon Schama Andress focuses not just on the killings but on the "grand political pronouncements, uprisings, and insurrections" His focus on the Terror as the culmination of a complex historical process rather than an unprovoked outbreak of violence, makes for a bracing historical reassessment." --Publishers Weekly
" [A] well-researched, well-written, and highly revisionist work."
--Sunday Times
"Andress, in this compelling study . . . scotches many myths, and gives some sobering parallels to contemporary society." --Scotland on Sunday
"Andress creates a vivid picture of the time Amid today's issues of individual rights, legitimate limits of state power and demonization of enemies, the book has great relevance" --Waterstones Books Quarterly
"Praise from the UK: "
""
"This is the most authoritative treatment we are likely to have for many years." --William Doyle, "The Independent"
"A tour de force. There is nothing to beat it." --"Spectator"
"[A] brilliantly deadpan account . . . one of the ironies that Andress skillfully reveals is that the law was denied, bit by bit, by the very men who had once been practicing it . . . he also shows how the feeble poisoned the righteous, revolutionary anger." --"The Guardian
"
"In such alarming times, it is important to understand what exactly terror is, how it works politically, and what, if anything, can be done to combat it. The historian David Andress has made a serious contribution to this central subject of our times with an accessible account of the way terror overtook the French Revolution at the end of the 18th Century." --"The Times
"
"It is a staggeringly complicated story that is just about ordered into a manageable narrative in Andress's even-tempered re-telling." --"The Observer
"
"Much important work on the French Terror has been done over the past 20 years by French, English, and American historians, and there is now a need to synthesize this into an accessible narrative history for a wider public. This is David Andress's aim, and one which he generally achieves in this well-written and handsomely produced book." --"Sunday Telegraph
"
"David Andress has given the reader a meticulous account of the Terror, in all its confusing twists and turns . . . While never failing to convey the drama and horrors of the Terror, Andress resists the temptation to exaggerate or turn drama into melodrama. He has written a book which stands beside Simon Schama's "Citizens."" --"Times Literary Review"
"Andress, in this compelling study, offers a far subtler, far more cogent approach to understanding the period, without ever becoming an apologist for the excesses." --"Scotland on Sunday"
""
"Andress creates a vivid picture of the time Amid today's issues of individual rights, legitimate limits of state power and demonisation of enemies, the book has great relevance." --"Waterstones Books Quarterly"
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