Since his execution by guillotine in july 1794, maximilien robespierre has been contested terrain for historians, at once the most notorious leader of. Public ritual for robespierre s cult of the supreme being. Robespierre, maximilien, zizek, slavoj, ducange, jean, howe, john. After he finished hibberts history of the french revolution, my son matthew, who has. However, its tenure overlapped with a period of extreme political and social chaos. The present book contains 16 essays about what robespierre thought, what he did, and how he has been perceived and interpreted, not only by historians but by playwrights and novelists. Virtue and terror verso revolutions book by maximilien.
In his august 1792 speech, robespierre said that france was living through one of the great events in human history. French revolution, ap world history flashcards quizlet. Before the overthrow of the monarchy robespierre was a hesitant and anxious lawyer whose physical countenance was fatigued and pale. A robespierre who read classical history the book through contemporary notes and eyewitness accounts tries to reconstruct the journey that a passionate and romantic youth from arras in western france took to become a tyrant. The life and opinions of maximilien robespierre is a 1974 book written by the historian norman hampson and published by gerald duckworth and company content. Great as have been the conquests of natural science in our timesuch that many think of ours as a scientific age par excellenceit is even more urgent and necessary that advances should be made in the social sciences if we are to gain control of the forces of nature loosed. George rude published in history today volume 8 issue 4 april 1958 robespierre of the leaders of the french revolution none has a greater claim to be considered its guiding spirit, its very personification, than maximilien robespierre. The momentous final days of the french revolutionary are well documented. What was the significance of maximilien robespierre in the. Today s deals your gift cards help whole foods registry sell disability customer support. Jul 24, 2019 robespierre overthrown in france maximilien robespierre, the architect of the french revolutions reign of terror, is overthrown and arrested by the national convention. Although robespierre, like most of the revolutionaries, was a bourgeois, he identified with the cause of the urban workers, the sansculottes as they came to be known, and became a spokesman for them. He was educated in paris and entered the same profession as his father. Athenian democracy was not the only form of republican government around, and it was destroyed firstly by macedon, then a second time by rome france and iberia, which were parts of the roman empire, and partially influenced by ancient greek colonies, remained feudal, nondemocratic monarchies between the roman era up until the 1700s.
In a spirit of mischief saintjust dedicated his book to the vatican. The level of analyses is now at a level where maximilien robespierre, joseph stalin and mao zedong are held in the same contempt as chenghiz khan, adolf hitler and osama bin laden. Maximilien robespierre was a french lawyer who became one of the most influential figures of the french revolution. Selected writings and speeches of maximillian robespierre. Maximilien robespierre timeline timetoast timelines. It makes for an interesting exercise, and the book. Sep 17, 2014 despite the title, which promises a history from below, the book is largely a conventional political history, with starring roles for the usual suspects. After he finished hibberts history of the french revolution, my son matthew, who has a very mild case of aspergers syndrome, said. Robespierre and the french revolution 2006, which is quite dominant in most book stores and the like due to its good publication timing in the english market almost a decade ago now, and which takes the tag of lincorruptible very seriously, introducing criticisms through that prism. Robespierre emerges less as the man who ruined the revolution than as a man the revolution ruined by the time of his death in 1794 he was an.
Robespierre s journalist friend desmoulins, wrote of this period, the gods are thirsty. As a member of the constituent assembly and the jacobin club, he. Discover librarianselected research resources on maximilien robespierre from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. No other leader of the french revolution held the centre of the revolutionary stage so long as robespierre. It was published by yale university press and has a total of 352 pages in the book.
Robespierre was a follower of a philosopher named rousseaus ideas, so he and a group of other fans created a club called the society of the friends of the revolution, or the jacobin club. They were led by maximilien robespierre from 1793 to 1794. It is because the french revolution is a religion and robespierre is one of its sects. Home browse history european history france 17th and 18th century france maximilien robespierre. After an initial period of stumbling, the revolution of 1789 became in august 1792 the finest revolution that has ever honored humanity, indeed the only one with an object worthy of man. There are chapters on his ideology and vision, on his political role, and on how he has been represented to posterity in the 19th and 20th centuries. Since his execution by guillotine in july 1794, maximilien robespierre has been contested terrain for historians, at once the most notorious leader of the french revolution and the least comprehensible. Although this period from mid 1793 to mid 1794 is usually known as the reign of terror, it was also a period of very effective government. Mar 30, 2000 the present book contains 16 essays about what robespierre thought, what he did, and how he has been perceived and interpreted, not only by historians but by playwrights and novelists. Architect of the terror of the french revolution, robespierre, guillotined without trial on 28 july 1794 read more opcglobal.
His natural talents were mediocre and intellectually robespierre was inferior to the leaders of the revolution, such as, danton or mirabeau. Jean paul marat french revolutionary leader born in switzerland who was a leader in overthrowing the girondists and was stabbed to death in his bath by charlotte corday 17431793. By threatening to extend the terror, he frightened many of those politicians whod previously kept their heads down to side. Mcphee includes a detailed chronology of robespierre s life, as well as extensive endnotes and a bibliography, which documentation will allow readers to determine whether they agree with mcphees assertion that, far from the emotionally stunted, rigidly puritanical and icily cruel monster of history and literature, this was a passionate man. It makes for an interesting exercise, and the book has much to be. Robespierre, maximilien on the principles of political morality that should guide the national convention in the domestic administration of the republic speech in the national convention on 5 february 1794 or 18 pluviose year ii. In my understanding, it is one where the politics of every strand presupposes that neoliberal capitalism is the least worst system that we. Robespierre was elected president of the national convention on june 4th, but his overweening power made enemies and allies very nervous. Today s jacobins dont have the means, but they do have the will. A major political figure in 18th century france, he served as a member of the committee of public safety which he dominated in the latter months of 1793. For the english he is the seagreen incorruptible portrayed by carlyle, the repellent figure at the head of the revolution, who sent thousands of people to. A riveting biography of the french revolutions most enigmatic figure that restores him to his pivotal historic place.
In short, mcphee tries to sketch a much more human and sympathetic robespierre than the one who appears in most history books. That is from simon schamas masterpiece citizens, his history of. Symbols of the french revolution maximilien robespierre. By the summer of 1794 an estimated 40,000 had died. For some historians and biographers, maximilien robespierre 175894 was a great revolutionary martyr who succeeded in leading the french republic to safety in the face of overwhelming military odds. An intimate new portrait of one of history s most controversial figures. He was a bourgeois and identified with the cause of the urban workers. What are some good books on the life of robespierre. Maximilien robespierre 17581794 was one of the leaders of the committee of public safety, the effective governing body of france during the most radical phase of the revolution. In the latter months of 1793 he came to dominate the committee of public safety, the principal organ of the revolutionary government during the reign of terror, but in 1794 he was overthrown and executed.
Marisa linton published in history today volume 56 issue 8 august 2006 maximilien robespierre has always provoked strong feelings. Architect of the terror of the french revolution, robespierre, guillotined without trial on 28 july 1794 read more opcglobal, 2017 your bibliography. Well written book that views the work and life of robespierre as a whole. Each espoused an ideology that sounded profound, but really unleashed anarchy and promoted bloody revenge. The work is an unorthodox piece of historical writing since it explores the character and life of maximilien robespierre via a conversation between four imagined characters, all of whom represent facets of hampsons own mind. Although this period from mid 1793 to mid 1794 is usually known as the reign. An intellectual history of the french revolution from the rights of man to robespierre. Apr 05, 2012 in short, mcphee tries to sketch a much more human and sympathetic robespierre than the one who appears in most history books. To this very day, he remains one of the most controversial figures in the history of france and europe. Flaubert had written that everything in art depends on the execution. He was instrumental in the period of the revolution commonly known as the reign of terror, which ended with his arrest and execution in 1794. In his speech, the justification of the use of terror which he presented to show more content so that leaves question as to how it was that robespierre transformed from a man who believed in a government for the people to nearly becoming a tyrant himself.
Discours 5e partie, 27 juillet 179327 juillet 1794 classic reprint french edition by maximilien robespierre hardcover. The historical life of maximilien robespierres reign of. To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive. Maximilien robespierre is one of the bestknown and most influential figures of the french revolution. For the english he is the seagreen incorruptible portrayed by carlyle, the repellent figure at the head of the revolution, who sent thousands of people to their death under the guillotine. Yet, argues colin jones, many of the established facts are myths that do not stand. Robespierre, figurehead of the cps, and orchestrator of the first state implemented terrors, remains today to be an iconic figure of the french revolution. Perceived by some as the champion, indeed the incarnation, of the revolutions purest and noblest ideals, among others he will always be remembered as the reasoned advocate of the terror, the defender of mass killing during the revolutions darkest and most tragic phase. Robespierre emerges less as the man who ruined the revolution than as a man the revolution. Robespierres transformation and the french revolution.
Reviewed by marisa linton in the history today, june 2006, volume 56, issue 6, pp. The story of maximilien robespierre biography book for kids 912 childrens biography books. Robespierre s defense of the french revolution remains one of the most powerful and unnerving justifications for political violence ever written, and has extraordinary resonance in a world obsessed with terrorism and appalled by the language of its proponents. Dover books on history, political and social science rosa luxemburg. The life and opinions of maximilien robespierre wikipedia. An intellectual history of the french revolution from the. Feb 11, 2012 the historian colin jones writes of mcphees book.
The legislative assembly, the legislature of revolutionary france from october 1, 1791 to september 20, 1792, provided the focus of political debate and revolutionary lawmaking. Robespierre history bibliographies cite this for me. The title of this book is robespierre and it was written by peter mcphee. Early in november 1789 robespierre sent his third long letter of that momentous year to buissart in their home town of arras, reporting on the developments in versailles and paris, where robespierre was a member of the revolutionary national assembly. The arrest of robespierre on the night of 910 thermidor, year two by. Through the speeches introduced by slavoj zizek, one can begin to understand the mindset, and reasoning provided behind the great slaughter of french people during the 17931794. Why robespierre chose terror first totalitarian revolution. Maximilien robespierre has always provoked strong feelings. Robespierre s actions are not so different from history s worst dictators, like stalin, hitler and chairman mao. List of books and articles about maximilien robespierre. Robespierre and the french revolution in world history. Just prepared from robespierres notes about the dantonists.
For the english he is the seagreen incorruptible portrayed by carlyle, the repellent figure at the. Marisa linton, robespierre and the terror, history today, 56 august 2006. In this dazzling new series, philosopher and cultural critic slavoj zizek interrogates key writings on revolution. Robespierre overthrown in france maximilien robespierre, the architect of the french revolutions reign of terror, is overthrown and arrested by the national convention. Kids learn about the biography of maximilien robespierre from the french revolution including his early life, entering politics, the jacobins, gaining power, the reign of terror, fall from power, execution, and facts. An intimate new portrait of one of historys most controversial figures. Early life a poor youth, he was enabled to study law in paris through a scholarship. For some historians and biographers, maximilien robespierre 175894 was a great revolutionary martyr who succeeded in leading the french republic to safety in. The french revolutions angel of death history today. Oct 31, 2012 public ritual for robespierres cult of the supreme being. Maximilien robespierres best friend was antoinejoseph buissart, like him a lawyer but more than twenty years his senior.
The legislative assembly first met on october 1, 1791, under the constitution of. Dec 12, 2011 after the national constituent assembly drafted the national constitution in 1791, the legislative assemblys inability to establish a functioning constitutional monarchy divided france socially and politically. The french revolution was a watershed event in modern european history that began in 1789 and ended in the late 1790s with the ascent of napoleon bonaparte. This series has been undertaken in the conviction that there can be no subject of study more important than history.
Uncover the controversy surrounding enlightenment writer voltaires life and work, including candide, and the details of his resulting arrests and exiles, at. He won admiration for his abilities, but his austerity and dedication isolated him from easy companionship. He is a priest with his flock robespierre preaches, robespierre censures, he. Two centuries after the french revolution, maximilien robespierre is still regarded as its towering figure. Yet today, the french revolution is celebrated as the event which gave birth to a nation built on the principles of enlightenment. None of those old gods and nymphs, those ancient and christian myths, those noble history paintings, and so on. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. He came to dominate the french revolution in its most radical phase. Maximilien robespierre, radical jacobin leader and one of the principal figures in the french revolution.
Virtue and terror by maximilien robespierre, paperback. His mother died when he was one year old, and his griefstricken father abandoned the family to go to bavaria, where he died in 1777. George couthon, a member of the committee of public safety, the dictatorial body that presided over the reign of terror, was indeed a cripple. George rude portrays him as its personification and. One, robespierre, the messianic schoolmaster, saw it as an. The french revolution was led by sociopaths who politicized language, much like todays jacobins. What a man this is, with his crowd of women around him. A peoples history of the french revolution by eric hazan. Inevitably, robespierre, intoxicated with power, overreached himself. As a member of the constituent assembly and the jacobin club, he campaigned for universal manhood suffrage and the.
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