Description
Book SynopsisThe unleashing of the French Revolution in 1789 resulted in the acceleration of time coupled with an inability to predict what might happen next. As unprecedented events outpaced the days, those caught up in the whirlwind had little time to make judicious decisions about which course of action to follow. The lack of reliable information and delays in communication between Paris and the provinces only exacerbated the situation. Consequently, some fled into exile in Europe and the United States, while others remained to take advantage of new opportunities provided by the revolutionary government. Between 1789 and 1794, the government moved from a position of hopeful cooperation to one of desperate measures instigated during the Terror of 17931794. As a result, those French citizens who had fled early in the revolution, including many aristocrats and the king''s brothers, as well as the artist Elisabeth Vigee-LeBrun, could not return until many years later, while those who had remained, s
Trade ReviewIn Surviving the French Revolution, Bette Oliver tells the story of an eclectic selection of aristocrats, revolutionaries, politicians, writers, and artists who sought to escape the violence and terror of the Revolution in the years between 1789 and 1795. By focusing on victims as well as survivors of the Revolution, Oliver vividly captures for her readers a sense of what it was like to live through an event like the French Revolution. This readable and well-documented book will appeal to scholars and readers interested in the French Revolution and its aftermath. -- Robert W. Brown, University of North Carolina at Pembroke
Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1. Crossing the Bridge Chapter 2. From Monarchy to Republic Chapter 3. French Émigrés in the United States Chapter 4. Artists and Writers Chapter 5. Rule by Terror Chapter 6. Flight of the Fugitives Chapter 7. Those Who Survived Conclusion
