Short History of the French Revolution, A (4th Edition) [Paperback]

Jeremy D. Popkin (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0131930370 | ISBN-13: 978-0131930377 | Publication Date: July 24, 2005 | Edition: 4

For courses on the French Revolution. Written for today's undergraduates, this up-to-date survey of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Period offers a shorter, concise alternative to the longer, detailed texts more appropriate for advanced study. This text introduces students to the major events that comprise the story of the French Revolution; to the different ways in which historians have interpreted them; to the political, social, and cultural origins of the Revolution; and to the latest methodological approaches.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

/*6003B-0, 0-13-060032-6, Popkin, Jeremy D., A Short History of the French Revolution, 3/E*/

Written for today's readers, this up-to-date survey of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Period offers a shorter, concise alternative to the longer, detailed volumes available. This volume introduces readers to the major events that comprise the story of the French Revolution; to the different ways in which historians have interpreted them; to the political, social, and cultural origins of the Revolution; and to the latest methodological approaches. The origins of the French revolution, collapse of the absolute monarchy, the revolutionary rupture, the defeat of the liberal revolution, the convention and the republic, the return to order, the Napoleonic empire, and the revolutionary heritage. For historians, enthusiasts and others interested in a current, comprehensive, yet brief account of the revolutionary period. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Jeremy D. Popkin, T. Marshall Hahn, Jr., professor of history at the University of Kentucky, is the author of books on the history of the press during the French Revolution and on the revolutionary era in the French colonies.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 4 edition (July 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131930370
• ISBN-13: 978-0131930377
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #742,940 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Beginner's Guide, January 1, 2011

By 

Tamara Kelsey (Meriden, CT United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Short History of the French Revolution, A (4th Edition) (Paperback)

I'll make this short and sweet: If you are taking a graduate level course and can't remember anything about the French Revolution, this book's for you. If you want an introductory level text with short chapters, plenty of subtopics divided into easy to handle sections, you'll like this book. It also has an extremely helpful timeline. If you already know a lot about the French Revolution, I doubt you'd find this book to be "exciting".

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very concise yet complete, September 15, 2009

By 

Harry Trumfio (Arlington Heights, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Short History of the French Revolution, 5th Edition (Paperback)

This work is brief yet provide an excellent overview of the French Revolution. An excellent starting point for anyone who wants to understand what happened in France during these turbulent years.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars concise and clear, December 18, 2008

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Short History of the French Revolution (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

Popkin's 3rd edition has the virtue of brevity. He concisely lays out the main reasons for the French Revolution, and the events that then unfolded. The book includes the seminal Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen from 1789. One of the key documents of human history. American readers might note some possible influences of the American Declaration of Independence.

However, unlike the American Revolution and its aftermath, the story in this book is far bloodier. We see the Thermidor - the Terror, and how the French revolutionaries turned on each other, with losers bundled off to the guillotine. And with the ascent of Napoleon as military dictator.