Does anyone have any recommendations for good digestible books on the French Revolution?

by VylePyrateSteplocke

I am currently reading Hilary Mantel's masterful A Place of Greater Safety, and whilst I am enjoying it immensely, I will confess that I am at a bit of a loss to exactly what is going on.

With that in mind, I wondered if there is anything that gives a clear overview of the events leading up to and during the French Revolution.

I recently read Bernard Cornwell's Waterloo, which I couldn't put it down, so anything in a similar vein would be hugely appreciated.

greyhistorypodcasts

If you're after an approachable summary that isn't overwhelmingly long, I would thoroughly recommend Christopher Hibbert's 'The French Revolution'. Novel-like and roughly 300 pages, it's a great way to dip one's toes into the murky waters of the French Revolution.

After that:

  • Peter McPhee's 'Liberty or Death' is a great read and will offer a modern perspective of the revolution. Well-researched and thorough, McPhee is at times more sympathetic to the revolutionaries and the challenges they faced compared to some older, more conservative historians.
  • Timothy Tackett's 'The Coming of the Terror in the French Revolution' is fantastic, but best read after you have a solid foundation. Tackett does a great job of unpacking the very human influences and components of the revolution (e.g. fear, mistrust etc.)