I've been reading Dickens' classic - something I somehow managed to avoid during my formal education! I've been enjoying it, and fully appreciate why it is a classic. However, it has made me realize there is another hole in my knowledge: The French Revolution itself: Causes, Actors, Outcomes. I know from a biography of Thomas Jefferson that he was horrified by the actions of the French, and quite dismayed that they could interpret the move to democracy in such a violent manner.
I need a recommendation of a good history of the French, especially one that covers the Revolution in depth. I'd like very much to gain an understanding of what forces led to their revolutionary experience being different from our own (or is that just a perception?), and perhaps some insight into how their revolution plays into the attitudes the French have today.
Sometimes, too, the best histories are biographies, so if a biography of a central figure is available, that could be a good approach, also. I'm open to your ideas!
Thanks!
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