The French Revolution: A History

by Thomas Carlyle
The French Revolution: A History cover
Good Books rating 4.0
History
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Waterstones
Paperback • £14.99
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Technical
  • ID: 2537
  • Added: 2025-10-15
  • Updated: 2025-10-16
  • ISBN: 9781462240012
  • Published: 2014-02-16
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Experience the French Revolution as it was originally chronicled in this hardcover reprint of Thomas Carlyle's 1896 masterpiece. Beautifully bound in brown cloth with gold-stamped titles, this edition remains faithful to the original text, providing readers with an authentic historical perspective. Printed in black and white for quality, it captures the essence of the era in a way that modern editions often overlook. /n/n Carlyle's detailed account is a cornerstone of historical literature, offering insights into the political upheaval, social changes, and key figures that shaped the revolution. This reprint, published by Repressed Publishing LLC, is printed on demand, ensuring that this classic work remains accessible to new generations of readers interested in one of history's most pivotal periods.

Reviews
Reddit - Recommended Books · 2025-10-15
superb 4.00

The book is superbly written fiction that is more mythologizing than factual. It is important as a foundational text.

A Reddit user on the Recommended Books forum describes 'The French Revolution: A History' as superbly written fiction that is more mythologizing than factual. They suggest enjoying the book for its literary merits rather than its historical accuracy. The reviewer highlights the book's importance as a foundational text that has influenced many subsequent works. While acknowledging its fictional elements, they appreciate the book's ability to bring the past to life in a vivid and engaging manner. The reviewer encourages readers to approach the book with an open mind, ready to enjoy its unique perspective on the French Revolution.

Quick quotes

    Enjoy it for what it is: superbly written fiction.

    It's more mythologizing than factual, and its importance is more as a foundational text for ...

    Carlyle's The French Revolution requires its own library ...

The Wall Street Journal · 2022-01-21
masterful 4.50

Carlyle's work is a masterpiece that shaped European political thought for generations. The book is a foundational text that remains relevant and captivating.

The Wall Street Journal highlights Thomas Carlyle's 'The French Revolution: A History' as a masterpiece that has significantly influenced European political thought for over two generations. The reviewer emphasizes that Carlyle's work is not just a historical account but a captivating journey through a pivotal period. They appreciate the depth and breadth of Carlyle's insights, which bring the past to life in a way that is both educational and engaging. The book is seen as a foundational text that continues to resonate with readers today, offering a unique perspective on the French Revolution.

Quick quotes

    Carlyle is still worth reading, if for no other reason than that he shaped European political thought for two generations.

    A masterpiece, complete in its vision and execution.

    The book is a captivating journey through a pivotal period in world history.

Ubiquitous Books · 2020-07-04
interesting 3.50

The book is an interesting literary piece rather than an accessible historical reference. Carlyle's writing style is exotic and engaging.

Ubiquitous Books offers a nuanced take on Carlyle's 'The French Revolution: A History,' suggesting it's best read as a piece of literature rather than a straightforward historical account. The reviewer admires Carlyle's exotic English sentence structure and apt vocabulary choices, which make the book a delight to read. While they acknowledge the book's literary merits, they also note that it may not be the most accessible historical reference. The reviewer enjoys the book for its vivid and picturesque realization of the past, making it a unique and engaging read.

Quick quotes

    Overall, then, this is an interesting book, but one to read more as a piece of literature than as an accessible historical reference.

    I bought it to revel in Carlyle's exotic English sentence structure and to wallow in and imitate his apt vocabulary choices.

    It combines a shrewd insight into character, a vivid realization of the picturesque, and a singular ability to bring the past to blazing life.

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