Customer Reviews

The Culture of Power and the Power of Culture: Old Regime Europe 1660-1789

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I am fairly knowledgeable about the 18th century, but this book brought me some brilliant new insights and new viewpoints - especially on 18th century Prussia, on the popularity of George III and (oddly) of Joseph II. Superb illustration through the history of culture of how the 18th century monarchy in France, unlike that of Prussia and England, failed to connect with the "public sphere". I found the omission of the Dutch Republic regrettable and a few passages a little tedious; but for me the book ranks with Orlando Figes' Natasha's Dance (see my review) as one of the few books about periods with which I am pretty familiar that has given me so many new angles to think about.

Blanning drives heavy on ' The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere' from Jurgen Habermas on this one. So in order to get a better understanding, you better read Habermas first, or along with this book. They both adress the same isssue, and deal about the way the public sphere came into being. They both show quite good how the French revolution could happen only in France. This last was always a riddle to me, and I think one of the subjects that most early modern historians are looking to explain or place. Habermas gave a very good move in the right direction but I think Blanning tops it. This is mainly because of the coverage of Blannings work, since its 515 pages think, while Habermas's work is only 310 pages. This pages are mainly filled with historical background, body and anecdotes, that truly to justice to the statement. So Blanning is making Habermas's case stronger.

As a historian I lways thought Habermas's book was extrordinary good, but it lacked certain historical boody. Im happy that someone did provide this body. However....I must say that both are mainly dealing with Germany, England and France. It leaves me wondering how a public sphere eventually came to being in other European countries, such as the Netherlands, what is not entirely unimportant if you recall what Jonathan Israel wrote about it, as the startpoint of the enlightenment in 'Radical Enlightenment'. But all in all a really good book.

If you can, read also Blannings ' Pursuit Of Glory'.