The French Revolution

A Political History

By: John Hardman

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Hardcover | 5 December 2025 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Hardcover
384 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
2.35 x 1.52 x 0.35

Hardcover

RRP $51.95

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A major new political history of the French Revolution

In 1786, France's ancien regime was functioning as usual. Its alliance with the victorious American colonies had restored its diplomatic prestige, the economy seemed to be flourishing, and internal politics seemed quiet. But just a few short years later, the dynasty which had ruled France for over 800 years was swept away. What happened to cause such devastating change to the long-established political structure?

John Hardman traces the political history of the French Revolution, from its origins to its aftermath. Hardman argues that the nature of ancien regime politics, the mismanagement of the fiscal crisis, and a new generation of young, overly confident politicians brought the Bourbon monarchy's apparatus crashing down. He shows how feudalism was on its last legs in 1789, and analyses the key roles played by Louis XVI, Antoine Barnave, and Georges Danton.

This is a remarkable history of one of modern Europe's defining moments, shedding new light on the complex politics of the day.

About the Author

John Hardman is one of the world's leading experts on the French Revolution and the author of several distinguished books on the subject, including The Life of Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, and Barnave.

Industry Reviews

"This is a book of exceptional clarity and analytical force, reliant on evidence and not on supposition, and tells the story with great conviction."-Simon Heffer, Telegraph

"John Hardman provides a compelling and highly readable account of the great political upheaval that was the French Revolution."-Julian Swann, author of Exile, Imprisonment, or Death

"A triumph of scholarship and original interpretation. Another masterpiece which will cause a stir in the world of French Revolutionary studies."-Ambrogio Caiani, author of Losing a Kingdom, Gaining the World

"Fascinating and important. . . . A highly original and important contribution to the history of the French Revolution."-Munro Price, author of Napoleon

"Hardman offers a revisionist and explicitly political history of the Revolution that places much of the blame for failure on an experiment in constitutional monarchy which denied the king any meaningful executive role."-Alan Forrest, author of Waterloo

"John Hardman has devoted many years to the study of the political history of the French Revolution as it was seen from the perspective of the monarchy. In this latest book he distils his knowledge in a readable and often insightful account."-Marisa Linton, author Choosing Terror

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