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The Great Fear of 1789: Rural Panic in Revolutionary France Hardcover – January 21, 1983
This major work, graphically describes the panic, paranoia, and social chaos that sparked the Revolution. One of France's great historians analyzes the causes of the mass hysteria that overcame rural France during the summer of 1789, as hungry villagers flocked into towns to look for work or to beg for charity, and as vagrants and beggars choked the rural roads, threatening reprisals against householders who refused to give them shelter or a crust of bread.
Originally published in 1983.
The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.
- Print length234 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherPrinceton University Press
- Publication dateJanuary 21, 1983
- ISBN-100691053561
- ISBN-13978-0691053561
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Product details
- Publisher : Princeton University Press (January 21, 1983)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 234 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0691053561
- ISBN-13 : 978-0691053561
- Item Weight : 15 ounces
- Best Sellers Rank: #6,230,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #11,857 in French History (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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Lefebvre's examination begins with a description of life of the peasant in revolutionary France. During prosperous years, the peasants fared well, though in the years prior to the revolution wages continually lagged behind rising food prices. Peasant life revolved around the harvests -- the effects of a poor harvest were felt until the next harvest as there would be little food to store in the granaries. As France's production became more efficient exporting was encouraged, though the peasants feared famine as a result of exportation because there never seemed to be enough food in storage.
During this era of fear and unease, panic developed, pitting different social stratifications against each other. It started with the peasants. Forced to bring their harvests to market rather than place them in storage, their growing nervousness brewed a series of food revolts through which the peasants refused to pay taxes.
It is clear that Lefebvre is very familiar with French geography, history and government through his vocabulary and descriptions, making this book better-suited for someone with at least a basic foundation in French history. Though he includes a short glossary at the beginning, the terminology he uses can be mind-boggling and confusing at times. The organization is confusing, alternating between top-down, bottom-up, and rural and city perspectives.
In general, this is a fascinating book that uses a historical setting to examine how profoundly rumor and fear effect human behavior and humanity.
Top reviews from other countries
The volume was in first class condition, clean and with a dust cover. Excellent value.