The Matchlock Gun

Book Description

In 1756, New York State was still a British colony, and the French and the Indians were constant threats to Edward and his family. When his father was called away to watch for a raid from the north, only Edward was left to protect Mama and little Trudy. His father had shown him how to use the huge matchlock gun, an old Spanish gun that was twice as long as he was, but would Edward be able to handle it if trouble actually came? This classic, first published in 1941, has an updated, kid-friendly format that includes the original black-and-white illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

A good story despite disturbing reviews........2007-04-24

As a Native American man enrolled in the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska, I feel obliged to respond to various reviews regarding this book. First of all, for the most part, I enjoyed this book. It is a fine story intended primarily for American children. However, it is simply that: a child's story. It is indeed unfortunate that there is such a short description of "the Indians;" I suspect that this is only because of the author's purpose of writing an exciting story set in the early years of the American experiment. While the story is lacking in its description of the Native American characters, this story does present the opportunity to begin a conversation about Native Americans and their role within American history, stereotypes of Native Americans and the ongoing need to address ongoing racism that continues from the legacy of the fearful perspective of such characters as the young and noble Edward.

I have found the reviews of some readers disheartening. To deny the atrocities against Native Americans by the US government and other institutions (e.g., the Church, school system, etc.) only continues to hurt Native Americans who must live with the ongoing results of those atrocities in the shadow of a society which has unfairly benefitted from the oppression of a group of peoples. Furthermore, such denial of privilege is detrimental to American society and the freedom of all Americans.

exciting book.......2007-04-10

The Matchlock Gun, by Walter D. Edmonds,was an exciting book. There was a gun in their family, from Spain, that was longer than a man, heavy, and fired like a canon. Edward, the main character, was fascinated with the gun and felt lucky to have it in their family.

When his father is gone with the militia, Edward is responsible for the family as the head of the house, but he is only 10! Edward and his mother were scared because they thought Indians might attack, sneaking through the militia.

I was scared reading the ending, but when it was over I wished there was more.

This was a good book for 8 year olds or older, because of some violent things. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Confused reviews........2006-06-08

Can someone explain to me how a book can be full of stereotypes and at the same time have interesting characters (review by E R Bird)? I am of native American descent (Cherokee), and my paternal ancestors survived the Trail of Tears, and yet I am in no way offended by authors describing the real horrors of warfare during the French and Indian Wars - or of other such wars, like King Philip's War (1675-76). Innocents were killed by both sides in the numerous wars between Europeans and American Indians. In the case of the French and Indian Wars, the French sent their Indian allies south from Canada to raid the British frontier. Ironically, during the War of Independence, many attacks by Indians were instigated by the British in Canada against the American insurgents (see Edmonds' "Drums Along the Mohawk").

Andrew Jackson is regarded as a great president, yet he ignored the decision of the Supreme Court and sent American troops to eject the peaceful Cherokees and Creeks from South Carolina and Georgia and drive them to Oklahoma during the winter. This was a truly disgraceful incident in American history. I think this episode shouldn't be glossed over any more than the killing of noncombatants by American Indians in various wars.

The truth should be told, however uncomfortable it might be.

David Lee-Smith

The Matchlock Gun.......2006-05-04

Edward had dreams of shooting the matchlock gun, which hung up on mantle in his home, until one day the Indians came and were going to invade his home. The book The Matchlock Gun is an entertaining, adventurous book for older children. This chapter book contains some historical events that happened in the 1700's. During this time the French and the Indians were constant threats to the British. Edward and his family were British. Edward's father was called off the battle and left Edward in charge of the house and the family. Edward's father showed his how to use the matchlock gun in case of an emergency. One evening the Indians and were about to attack his home when he fired the gun killing two of the Indians.
This book takes place in the 1750's in the state of New York. During this time there was a lot of conflict between the French, Indian, and British. The main characters in the story are Edward, Trudy, who is Edward's little sister, and Gertrude, the mother. Edward is the hero of the story because he ends up saving his family from the Indians. All of the illustrations in the book are in black and white. They give the reader a general idea of the style, clothing, and transportation during this time.
The book The Matchlock Gun is full of suspense and adventures to keep the reader enticed. Once Edward learns how to use if matchlock gun, is he going to need to use it in the future to protect his family while his father is away?

War's impact upon a family in colonial America.......2006-03-20

"The Matchlock Gun," by Walter D. Edmonds, features illustrations by Paul Lantz. The copyright page notes that this book was originally published in 1941. The entire book is about 80 pages long; the main text is 62 pages long and is divided into ten chapters. In his foreword Edmonds establishes the setting of the book: the French and Indian War in colonial America. The tale looks at the war's impact on the Van Alstyne family: husband Teunis, wife Gertrude, 10-year old son Edward, and 6-year old daughter Trudy. Teunis, "a true Dutchman," is a militia captain. The tale's first chapter establishes Edward's fascination with the gun of the title, a massive Spanish weapon that hangs over the mantel.

Edmonds has crafted a simple but suspenseful tale of life in what one character calls "the wild America" during wartime. He appeals to the senses with vivid details such as the smell from butter churning. The book also gives a glimpse into his characters' domestic and social lives. Despite its short length, this is a rich text that touches on such themes as advancing weapons technology, the Dutch cultural presence in colonial America, and--most importantly--the impact of war upon families. Edward is an appealing young hero. A short author bio at the end of the book notes that Edmonds was born in upper New York State and that in 1942 this book received the Newbery Medal.

Sister Revolutions: French Lightning, American Light

Average customer rating:

Credible analysis, well-argued thesis
Completely Biased against French Rev
French Revolution: For Good Things, Against Bad Things
French Rev Bad; American Rev Good
Explores Why a Revolution Succeeds

Sister Revolutions: French Lightning, American Light
Susan Dunn
Manufacturer: Faber & Faber
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Revolutionary | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

18th Century | World | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0571199895

Amazon.com

American historians have long appreciated France's contribution to the American Revolution, led by champions such as the Marquis de Lafayette and given full force by the combined Franco-American defeat of the British army at Yorktown. French historians have returned the favor by analyzing the contribution of American revolutionary thought to the French Revolution, which followed the American struggle for independence by only a decade.

Susan Dunn adds a well-written, lively narrative history to the record, with a cast of characters that ranges from the austere warrior George Washington to the firebrand Robespierre. More importantly, she limns just how different the American and French revolutionary projects were. In her view, the American Revolution emphasized personal freedom, thanks in large measure to the arguments of philosophers mistrustful of government in any form (Thomas Jefferson and James Madison among them). For the French, she suggests, personal freedom was of less importance than consensus, public order, and economic democracy; of paramount concern was the incorporation of ordinary people, the Third Estate, into the state. Comparing the American Bill of Rights with the French Declaration of the Rights of Man, Dunn shows how these "sister revolutions" diverged. The result is an engaging work of political history, one that illuminates the events of later years on both sides of the Atlantic. --Gregory McNamee

Book Description

What the two great modern revolutions can teach us about democracy today

The American and French revolutions presented the world with two very different visions of democracy. Although both professed similar Enlightenment ideals of freedom, equality, and justice and set similar political agendas, there were also fundamental differences. The French sought a complete break with a thousand years of history; the Americans were content to preserve many aspects of their English heritage. Why did the two revolutions follow such different trajectories? And what lessons do they offer us about democracy today? In lucid narrative style, Dunn captures the personalities and lives of the great figures of both revolutions, and shows how their stories added up to make two very different events.

Customer Reviews:

Credible analysis, well-argued thesis.......2006-05-12

"Sister Revolutions" is one of those books you're surprised took this long to be written. It took over two centuries for somebody to sit down and compare two revolutions that occured side by side, with each other's influence, and to determine why one of those revoutions succeeded admirably and the other failed disastrously. Nevertheless, Susan Dunn commits a small miracle in being able to fairly analyze such a complex unfolding of history in a mere 208-page, easy read.

This book is an argument as to why the American Revolution was successful and the French Revolution wasn't, even though both were founded on many of the same Enlightenment-inspired ideas (property rights, natural law, etc). One reviewer complained that Dunn doesn't delve nearly enough into the events of the revolutions themselves, but this is not Dunn's goal. For the buildup to and the revolutions themselves, check out "The Glorious Cause", by Robert Middlekauff (U.S. revolution) and "France: 1789-1815" by D.M. Sutherland (France revolution). These books examine the events and motives behind their respective revolutions. Dunn is merely examining the political and social consequences of them.

Another reviewer complained that Dunn is biased in favor of the American Revolution. Yes she is, and that's what her entire argument is about. Does she not have a right to publish an argument? Dunn argues that the American Founding Fathers's emphasis on individual rights, a protected opposition, and a system of institutional checks and balances has produced a more stable and freedom-respecting government than the French Founding Fathers's emphasis on majority rule, unity at all costs, and collectivism. Judging by a comparison between the U.S. and France of the various social, economic, military, and political events of the last two centuries, I'd say Dunn has more than enough historical evidence to support her thesis.

To be sure, the book has a few flaws. In dealing with the French Revolution, Dunn revolves almost exclusively around two of its main characters: Robespierre and Saint-Just. These two were indeed the Dr. Evil and the Mini-Me of the Jacobin Terror. But the Committee for Public Safety was a rotating, 12-man dictatorship, not to mention their lackeys in the Assembly. Including other members such as Marat, Barare, Desmoulins, and others, Dunn would have not only strengthened her arguments, but also shown that the draconianism of the French Revolution was ingrained in the annals of power far beyond the ambitions of these two powerful politicians. Check out "Twelve Who Ruled" by R.R. Palmer for an excellent analysis on the Committee for Public Safety.

And while Dunn is correct in her conclusions as to what political and philosophical ideologies led to the downfall of the French Revolution (and the success of the American Revolution), she attributes the entire consequences to the wisdom or ignorance of the respective Founding Fathers. Now, unlike our nation's self-described "intellectual elite" (snicker, snicker), I'm no francophile. The United States trumps France in every aspect except cheese and snails. Our nation always has been and always will be superior to theirs, especially since the French continue to fail to learn the lessons of 1792. But in all fairness, the French were at several disadvantages at the outset of their revolution. Unlike America, France was a small nation with a highly centralized capital city, which for over a millenium had operated under feudalism and a strong state religion. America had much more of a "clean slate" to work with. Not to mention that the French had attempted to orchestrate a complete social revolution alongside their political one. As America was colonized and settled, social revolution gradually took place over a span of three centuries. Check out "The Radicalism of the American Revolution" by Gordon Wood, and "Pursuits of Happiness" by Jack Greene for further study.

Finally, Dunn falls short in her call for a "one-size-fits-all" democracy based on the British system. If there's one thing the history of democracy (especially the last decade or so...see Iraq, Eastern Europe, etc) has taught us, its that each democratic government is at least partially molded around the cultures and values that define that specific society. British-style democracy works so well in Britain precisely because it's Britain. Modern French democracy may be imperfect by our standards, but one can hardly compare Chirac's coalition to the Jacobin totalitarian state. France has come far, though not completely, in ensuring minority rights, checks and balances, freedom of speech, etc. And lastly, Dunn's call for the term limits of U.S. Senators and Representatives be shortened or lengthened to reflect those of British lawmakers is equally flawed for the same reasons. Our Founding Fathers gave senators a lengthier term than representatives specifically to promote legislative stablity and to discourage acting on populistic impulse.

Aside from this, "Sister Revolutions" is a well-argued approach to two revolutions whose implications, ideologies, and consequences continue to inspire to this day. It's especially useful when applying to post-18th Century revolutions. Those which have followed the French model (socialism) have failed miserably. Those which have followed the American model (individual capitalism) have been far more successful. It won't be a point you'll hear espoused from your average campus professor, but they're too busy reading their own books to actually read someone else's.

Completely Biased against French Rev.......2004-04-17

The author completely disregards many important factors that contributed to the divergent paths of the French Revolution and the American Revolution. If you have read J.M. Thompson's The French Revolution, you know that France had fundamental differences from America in the latter half of the 18th Century. Also, Dunn ignores the fact that the leaders of the American Revolution merely glossed over one very crucial issue when defining the new nation - Slavery. This important issue led to a bloody Civil War less than a century later!

French Revolution: For Good Things, Against Bad Things.......2004-03-18

It's not possible to seriously study the American Revolution without having a knowledge of the French Revolution, as well. Both having been in the name of "the people", why did one work so well, giving us the world's oldest operating constitution, while the other descended into a chaotic, paranoid killing spree?

The short answer is that the French committed the classical blunder of "people's movements" : stirring unbridled emotion in with the idea that the people reign supreme, this is the people's government, so question it and you're against the people.....now prepare to have your height reduced by a foot or so. As an example, the Declaration of the Rights of Man states such laughably contradictory statements of "rights" that it's hard to imagine anyone ever thought it could work in the first place: from Article 4 "Liberty consists in the freedom to do everything which injures no one else;" I guess it would be insulting you to draw the line from freedom to tyranny when you're using statements that fatuous as your guiding light. It's kind of like describing your political ideology as "being for good things and against bad things". That's a bit open-ended, don't you think?

History shows hoards of people running like lemmings into the arms of movements that do this again and again at the urging of intellectuals who, in the attempt to reconcile theory with practical solutions, fail miserably and leave an atrocious body-count in their wake. By now, you'd think this dismal little scenario, playing itself like an endless loop of a bad horror film, would recede into history but that just doesn't seem to be the case. After being beaten down by some megalomaniacal ruler, the "people" tend to make the classical over-step of tearing everything to ground level in an effort to scrub themselves clean of the past. What's usually left is a barren wasteland that's as bad or worse than the original offense.

To put it very briefly, the American Revolution differed in that it didn't discard every last remnant of Britain, keeping the best while discarding the worst.

This is an excellent effort, although I think it steps beyond its limits in the final chapters as the author understandably attempts to integrate the lessons from both revolutions to the present. This seems to brief to be of much value and probably should have been the subject of another book.

French Rev Bad; American Rev Good.......2001-06-17

I am surprised that there aren't more books out there tying together the American and French Revolutions. I read this book as part of the Brother's Book Club (BBC) and thoroughly enjoyed the e-mail discussions it generated. If you are looking for a chronological historical breakdown of the two revolutions, this would not be the book to get. If, however, an analytical breakdown of the causes that generated and fueled the two revolutions, the thought that kept them aloft, the intellectual connection and differences between the revolutions, and lastly the impact that they had upon the rest of the world; all sound compelling to you, then by all means go buy this book.

One detractor is Dunn's oversimplification in her critical look at everything involving the French Revolution and high praise for all things American Revolution. She follows this code, almost without exception. A more objective analysis would have been more meaningful and valid. The strength of the book is Dunn's revelation of the power of ideas. She makes it inducingly clear that the historically decisive actions of the world were driven by the power of ideas.

Perhaps the most compelling chapters come at the end, as Dunn stretches intellectually by portraying the two revolutions as models and exploring the effect they have had on subsequent revolutions around the globe. The biggest surprise is that after Dunn praises the American model, she concludes by finding America's current system of government inefficient and suggests that the British Parliamentary model is the best fitting for modern day democracies. How we come full circle.

Good book for those interested in the thought process behind the American and French revolution, but not so much for a historical breakdown of the two. Through exploring the power of ideas, Dunn comes up with some powerful ideas of her own.

Explores Why a Revolution Succeeds.......2001-03-20

Author Dunn explores the French and American Revolutions of the late 18th century. She does an excellent job of describing the differences between the two political systems, one based on concensus but with a loyal opposition (American) and one based on total unity (French). The most interesting idea developed is that the French Revolution served as a harbinger of the Russian Revolution. The will of the people would be served by an elite few who remained convinced of their leadership even when deserted by the people they served. The French leaders are portrayed as idealist who tried to create an impossible system while the American leaders were politicians who knew that to create a workable system, some ideas had to be sacrificed.

Book Description

In the year 1754, the stillness of Charlestown, New Hampshire, is shattered by the terrifying cries of an Indian raid. Young Miriam Willard, on a day that had promised new happiness, finds herself instead a captive on a forest trail, caught up in the ebb and flow of the French and Indian War. It is a harrowing march north. Miriam can only force herself to the next stopping place, the next small portion of food, the next icy stream to be crossed. At the end of the trail waits a life of hard work and, perhaps, even a life of slavery. Mingled with her thoughts of Phineas Whitney, her sweetheart on his way to Harvard, is the crying of her sister's baby, Captive, born on the trail. Miriam and her companions finally reach Montreal, a city of shifting loyalties filled with the intrigue of war, and here, by a sudden twist of fortune, Miriam meets the prominent Du Quesne family, who introduce her to a life she has never imagined. Based on an actual narrative diary published in 1807, Calico Captive skillfully reenacts an absorbing facet of history.

Customer Reviews:

Very Good.......2007-04-28

It is very interesting to look at Miriam's character in this story. It is a little hard to sympathize with her at the beginning, because she is so self centered. She doesn't seem to care for much past herself. But that changes as the story progresses, and she becomes caring and giving to others. As she does, she begins to find an inner peace that had eluded her for most of the story.
I also like how everything in this story is so accurately portrayed. I have read how some readers have been shocked how Indians are referred to as "savages," and "redskins." The author was merely trying to portray how many of the settlers saw them. Besides, in the story, Miriam is corrected by one of the characters, who tries to show her the Indians in a different light. I also like how the French are shown, a little frivolous, with a great love for the material things, but kindhearted as well (most of them).
All in all, this book is quite good, with many twists and turns, though I found it a tiny bit slow at times.

Calico Captive is a Pretty Good Book.......2007-02-27

This is a beautiful story of a girl who was a captive to both the Indians and the French. Some parts of this book I did not like because of the way they called Indians "Redskins", although they might have called them that. After I got into it, it was a lot more interesting. The writing style was good, because it had different points of view, and it is historically accurate. I couldn't put it down. The book is an epic tale of a young girl who learns to adapt to her surroundings. I loved this book from beginning to end. I enjoyed reading it very much.

A modern re-writing of captivity narrative and young adult classic: Calico Captive.......2007-01-03

Calico Captive is Elizabeth George Sprears (1908-1994) first novel. It was inspired by the diary of Susanna Willard Johnson, abducted by the Abenaki Indians in 1754 (during the French and Indian War) from her house in Fort Number 4 in Charleston, New Hampshire, published for the first time in 1796 and then 1807 (and presently available online at www.canadiana.org). Susanna Johnson was made captive with all her family, including a 14 year old sister, turned into the sixteen year old Miriam in the book, conducted to the Indian settlement of St. Francis and then sold to the French in Montreal, where she remained for three years before being set free after the payment of ransom. It took some years still before the whole family could be reunited.

Captivity narratives evolved into a kind of literary genre during the early years of American literature. These diaries, mostly by women, were always written at distance from the event of the abduction and share in their originality many stereotyped situations. These memories have been identified by modern critics as vehicles for a subjective rather than objective truth, as a means of political propaganda and as a form of sensational literature such as the "slave narratives". Post-modern and cultural analysis have re-evaluated them as examples of gender and culture conflicts and pointed out the principal elements of the genre: what a proper woman should do in a desperate situation and the religious message of sticking to Faith in times of adversity. Not rarely, however, the captives depict their captors as individuals and somehow opened themselves to these foreign (Indian or French) cultures. Susanna Johnson's diary is one of those in which the captors, be they Indian or French, are shown in all their humanity and this old document, even if difficult to read, retains a charm of its own.

This long introduction is to explain the importance, the originality and the enduring success of "Calico captive". This novel, more often than not classified as children or adolescent literature makes a great read also for adults. Elizabeth George Spear describing Susanna's little sister Miriam introduces into this real adventure a fictionalized and modern young girl, that with her thoughts and actions allows the reader to identify with the history, the characters and the literary genre.

Miriam is sixteen, just starting to get interested in a young Harvard bound Phineas Whitney, when she is ripped away from her home. During her march through the woods, she keeps blaming her family for their capture and she thinks with longing and rage of her new blue dress. These small things seem more important than the plight the family is withstanding. But how true, that a sixteen year old girl would think of it this way! Once in the Indian settlement she tries to get along with her masters and decides to learn sewing and embroidery and tries to make the best of her situation. But when she is brought to Montreal, the contact with the long despised French, completely upsets her beliefs and standards. The people she meets are sincere and sympathetic, all the world revolving around her is interesting and her mind opens to the acceptance of another culture (European) and another religion (Roman Catholicism). She realizes the enemy is not so different from us and she integrates so well, to be asked to be part of that world. The temptation is strong but inside her mind her steadfastness, modelled on that of her sister Susanna, consents her to take the right decision.

One of the most interesting aspects of Miriam's outlook is the acceptance of what she has to learn from her captors: the embroidery from the Indians, the fashion and gaiety from the French, and at the same time the understanding of the relations of the other members of her family (Sylvanus the little boy that loves to run wild with the Indians, the little Susanna that loves to be pampered by her adoptive French aunts, her older sister Susanna that has so many prejudices against the French).

A great deal of historical research is evident in the book's preparation and the Authors descriptive capacities consent a complete identification with the characters and the situations. Old Montreal is there before our eyes, as are the dresses of the Frenchwomen and the sparkling ballrooms, but we can also feel the cold, the hunger and the discomfort of life among the woods.

This novel has a double value. In the first place it is a beautiful story to read and enjoy and at the same time an occasion for learning what life was like during the French and Indian War, but in the second place it is a modern version of captivity narrative that allows the reader to appreciate this genre of literature so popular many years ago.

A small personal P.S.: I read this book borrowing it from the Library when I was nine years old (1966) and I enjoyed very much. After so many years, I found it a bookshop in Boston this summer and I bought it with enormous joy. I took it back to Italy, where I now live, and read it with all the enthusiasm of when I was nine. Naturally, I now understand more things than I did then and the Net helps us out in gaining more information on the topic, but the joy of reading the book I assure you was just the same! [...]

An adolecent's journey.......2006-06-17

Having read in various books of the French and Indian war of Susanah Johnson's captivity and ordeal, I came across this fictionalized account set through the eyes of her sister, Miriam. Being curious, I purchased it.

This is the life developing story of a teenage girl and in that it is a good story. Taking the character from her abduction by savages near fort Number Four (whose attrocities are well documented) to her captivity (something not so well documented)in the native settlement of St. Franceis to her being deliverered to Montreal (she had been sold though no details are shown) in New France to her eventual repatriation.

Based on a true story narrated by the heroine's sister Susanna Johnson in 1807, and containing numerous historical innacuracies and clearly some early Politically correct biases of the auttor,this will be interesting reading to a teenager as well as an adult. Though due to lack of availablility, I do not fault the author's numerous historical and cultural inaccuracies in her story, I must confess I do not care for the author portraying the character as narrow minded in comparison to the Abanakis whose label of Savages is well deserved and their attrocities are well documented or of the Catholic French who were hardly the most tolerant of people as French Huegenots in France and many English protestant captives discovered after being sold to them by the natives. Indeed though there is much reported of english captives being purchased from the natives by their French patrons not much is out on the details.
Certainly the proto-political correctness could have been done without.

Otherwise it is a good story as far as story telling goes.

I feel, with proper research to correct its flaws, it would make a nice tv movie for kids.

A Captivating story!.......2005-10-03

This Historical Fiction Novel is great!! It helped me understand more about the time era. After the first few pages, I got really into the book. It made me feel as if I really were the main character, and going through her struggles. This book expresses the characters really well, and is fun to read!!

The Long Affair: Thomas Jefferson and the French Revolution, 1785-1800

Average customer rating:

A Great but Flawed Man
Readable and Convincing, but ...
REVIEW OF CONOR O'BRIEN'S THE LONG AFFAIR BY JOHN CHUCKMAN
Character assasination posing as biography
An indictment of Thomas Jefferson's Legacy

The Long Affair: Thomas Jefferson and the French Revolution, 1785-1800
Conor Cruise O'Brien
Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

Revolutionary | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
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ASIN: 0226616568

Amazon.com

Conor Cruise O'Brien, the distinguished Irish diplomat, constitutional historian and writer, has produced a typically vigorous and sweeping polemic against the reputation of the author of the Declaration of Independence Thomas Jefferson. O'Brien contends that liberals are mistaken in claiming Jefferson as one of their own; indeed he regards the right-wing militias as the true heirs to Jefferson's spirit. Contrasting Jefferson's position with that of his longtime hero, the anti-revolutionary Edmund Burke, O'Brien details the extreme edges of Jeffersonian political theory, in particular his commitment to the French Revolution even in the face of its excesses ("rather than it should have failed, I would have seen half the earth desolated"). For O'Brien, the American revolution is still a glorious achievement, but Jefferson is demoted to a mere "draughtsman" of the Declaration.

Book Description

As controversial and explosive as it is elegant and learned, The Long Affair is Conor Cruise O'Brien's examination of Thomas Jefferson, as man and icon, through the critical lens of the French Revolution. O'Brien offers a provocative analysis of the supreme symbol of American history and political culture and challenges the traditional perceptions of both Jeffersonian history and the Jeffersonian legacy.

"The book is an attack on America's long affair with Jeffersonian ideology of radical individualism: an ideology that, by confusing Jefferson with a secular prophet, will destroy the United States from within."—David C. Ward, Boston Book Review

"With his background as a politician and a diplomat, O'Brien brings a broad perspective to his effort to define Jefferson's beliefs through the prism of his attitudes toward France. . . . This is an important work that makes an essential contribution to the overall picture of Jefferson."—Booklist

"O'Brien traces the roots of Jefferson's admiration for the revolution in France but notes that Jefferson's enthusiasm for France cooled in the 1790s, when French egalitarian ideals came to threaten the slave-based Southern economy that Jefferson supported."—Library Journal

"In O'Brien's opinion, it's time that Americans face the fact that Jefferson, long seen as a champion of the 'wronged masses,' was a racist who should not be placed on a pedestal in an increasingly multicultural United States."—Boston Phoenix

"O'Brien makes a well-argued revisionist contribution to the literature on Jefferson."—Kirkus Reviews

"O'Brien is right on target . . . determined not to let the evasions and cover-ups continue."—Forrest McDonald, National Review

"The Long Affair should be read by anyone interested in Jefferson—or in a good fight."—Richard Brookhiser, New York Times Book Review

Customer Reviews:

A Great but Flawed Man.......2006-08-06

Conor Cruise O'Brien has here given us an extremely interesting, if troubling, book on Jefferson's views on the French Revolution and slavery. In a nutshell, O'Brien has two charges against Jefferson to bring: first, he believes that Jefferson's support of the French Revolution was for the most part sincere, but convenient. Secondly, and most provocatively, O'Brien not only argues that our third president was a racist, not merely when judged by exacting late Twentieth Century standards, but when judged by Eighteenth Century Virginian standards. And that when white extremists claim to be his genuine heirs, they are not entirely wrong! An extraordinary charge, given the general view of Jefferson as the most 'liberal' and progressive of the Founders. A charge to which we will return momentarily.

But first, Mr. O'Brien's discussion of Jefferson and the French Revolution runs something like this: Slaveholders of the American South were being attacked and ridiculed, not only by their rivals in the northern states but by the French and English, for their hypocrisy. It was this combination of embarrassment about slavery and political struggle with the Federalists that led Jefferson and most of the South to answer their enemies by the amazing stratagem of virtually unconditional support of the French Revolution.

I say amazing, though ingenious comes to mind, because at first blush it would seem that support of the French Revolution would mean support of her humanitarian principles. But Jefferson, the South, and the Republicans needed political support from voters in the North, they needed a unifying theme to counterbalance the particularism and divisiveness of slavery. Their policy of fervent public support for the French Revolution did that very well indeed. Jefferson's party was to successively place three men, himself, Madison and Monroe, in the presidency in the first two decades of the nineteenth century.

But I honestly find the whole discussion of Jefferson's maneuvers, and O'Briens purported shock at them, disingenuous and unconvincing. Imagine! Politicians playing at Politics!!! If anything, we end up impressed by the political acumen of Jefferson and the Republicans. Not only did they make so many people forget that so many of their leaders were slaveowning patricians, but they were able to saddle the Federalists, within a generation of the Revolutionary War, with the defense of the hated British Empire! What I did find deeply disturbing, however, was O'Briens discussion of Jefferson's views of slavery.

What O'Brien tries to show, and I think very much succeeds in showing is, first, that Jefferson's reputation as the outstanding liberal of his generation is sentimental nonsense. Not only did he never seriously consider any practical way of ending the slave/plantation system, but he was among its most ardent defenders. In his beloved Virginia, around the time of his Declaration, he was a member of a committee chosen to revise, modernize and codify the statutes of Virginia, including laws dealing with slaves. Among the enlightened additions to the law that came out of this committee were that no free blacks would be allowed to emigrate into Virginia, though God only knows why they would want to, and any white woman having a child of a black man would have to leave the state! Thus spoke the author of the Declaration of Independence.

Later, during a slave revolt in the French colony Saint Dominique (Haiti), Jefferson behaved in an equally abominable fashion. He sweats blood over the sufferings of the former masters, gone into penurious exile, "Never was so deep a tragedy presented to the feelings of man"! But as to the recently self-emancipated slaves, our third president advises the French, in the person of Louis A. Pichon (the Charge d' Affairs) to reduce Toussaint [the Haitian leader] to starvation after making peace, and in collusion, with England! In other words, Jefferson advises France to abandon the Revolution and Revolutionary Principles because there are free black in the Caribbean! During his second administration, after the failure of the French to retake the island, he imposed an embargo on the Haitians...

Jeffersonians are forever drawing our attention to the words, the magnificent words, on the Jefferson Memorial: "Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that his justice cannot sleep forever. Commerce between master and slave is despotism. Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than that these people are to be free." But O'Brien wonders, as do we, about the words that follow those quoted above. Can the man who, in his Autobiography, wrote "Nor is it less certain that the two races, equally free, cannot live in the same government. Native habit, opinion has drawn indelible lines of distinction between them", still be an unquestionable monument in our multi-cultural society?

Why this spiteful, evil, resentful hatred of the slaves (indeed, all black people) who toiled so endlessly for him? Those of us alive today in the United States have little understanding of slavery, having never lived under it, whether as masters or slaves. Perhaps if we were to compare modern slavery with ancient slavery we could shed some more light on the institution of slavery.

Jefferson, Virginians, and other modern slaveowners, were mightily given over to the conceit of comparing themselves to ancient slaveholders. After all, if such paragons of virtue and principle like Brutus and Cato could own slaves, what could be essentially wrong with the "peculiar institution"? This argument is, to be honest, idiotic. Just because Cato is politically incorruptible, an icon (in his own time!) in the resistance to Caesar, does not mean that everything he does is magnificent or beyond reproach. If this were so he would have been able to put together a coalition to thwart Caesar long before Caesar crossed the Rubicon.

The comparison of ancient and modern slavery, however, is interesting. Is there anything that sets them apart? Why did (some) slaves in antiquity rise to such 'recognized' preeminence in science, humanities, or the arts, while this was so rare, as to be nonexistent, in Jefferson's Virginia, the rest of the American South, or, to a lesser extent, Brazil and Haiti? Jefferson himself observes that some ancient slaves excelled in science, insomuch as to be usually employed as tutors to their masters' children. Characteristically, he points out that these slaves, of the Greeks and Romans, "were of the race of whites." Thus it would seem that it is the psuedo-scientific notion of race is what separates ancient and modern forms of slavery. Unfortunately, in the limited space that Amazon allows, this topic must await another review.

In closing I want to say that I don't believe that Jefferson was a premature Nazi, and neither does Mr. O'Brien. But Jefferson's speculations and his actions have given credence to lunatics like Timothy McVeigh claiming our Third President as their hero. These facts should lead us not to the contemptuous dismissal of Jefferson, which is what he did to black people, but rather admiration for what was genuinely admirable in the man, and contempt for what was contemptible.

Readable and Convincing, but ..........2006-06-27

O'Brien provides an interesting, readable and persuasive account of Jefferson's relations with the French Revolution and his views on slavery. Jefferson comes across as a distinctly mixed character, but an interesting one.

Reading the early parts of the book, my main reservation was that the author, having created plausible hypotheses, tended to thereafter treat them as facts. It's hard to avoid doing that when explaining historical events, in particular the apparent contradictions between Jefferson's stated views and his actual policies with regard to both the French Revolution and slavery. The problem for the reader who is not already an expert in the history--and I am not--is that he has no way of knowing how much the author has selected his facts to fit his theories.

As long as he was dealing with the late 18th and early 19th centuries, I found O'Brien convincing. When, at the end, he switched to talking about late 20th century America, on the other hand, he came across as presenting the sort of distorted picture that requires the combination of political bias and massive ignorance. He appears to believe that the major opposition to conventional liberalism in the U.S. is a right wing white racist movement which he occasionally describes as "libertarian" and identifies with Timothy McVeigh and the Militia movement. While he thinks that movement will probably lose out over the next century, he isn't sure.

Somewhere he refers to militias as having tens of thousands of members. It doesn't seem to occur to him that that figure, if true, amounts to about one American in ten thousand. And he greatly overestimates the central role of racial issues in American political discourse, perhaps in part because doing so provides a tie-in to Jefferson, perhaps in part because he cannot imagine any other reasons why those identified as on the right might be critical of late twentieth century American liberalism.

All that being said, I'm glad I read the book, and I think I know more about the early years of the U.S. as a result of doing so.

REVIEW OF CONOR O'BRIEN'S THE LONG AFFAIR BY JOHN CHUCKMAN.......2005-02-26

This is, quite simply, one of the most important books ever written about Jefferson. It redresses the terrible imbalance created by American historians who think of the Founding Fathers as the Twelve Apostles re-incarnated. Critics of the book should understand that O'Brien is a world-class scholar.

When O'Brien published "The Long Affair," about Thomas Jefferson and his peculiar admiration for the bloody excesses of the French Revolution, the Sage for Archer Daniels Midland (aka George Will) went into a word-strewn fit over the book. I think Will's excesses speak to the quality of most criticism of the book.

Perhaps, the single thing about the book that most upset George was O'Brien's comparison of a statement of Jefferson's to something Pol Pot might have said. Jefferson wrote in 1793, at the height of the Terror, "...but rather than it [the French Revolution] should have failed, I would have seen half the earth desolated. Were there but an Adam and Eve left in every country, and left free, it would be better than as it now is." George wrote off Jefferson's brutal statement as "epistolary extravagance," and attacked O'Brien for using slim evidence for an extreme conclusion about an American "hero."

George went so far as favorably to compare the work of Ken Burns with that of O'Brien, calling Burns "an irrigator of our capacity for political admiration," as compared to one who "panders" to "leave our national memory parched."

I mean no disparagement of Ken Burns, but he produces the television equivalent of coffee-table books. O'Brien is a scholar, the author of many serious books. The very comparison, even without the odd language, tells us something about George.

But language, too, is important. The irony is that George's own words, "irrigator of our capacity for political admiration," sound frighteningly like what we'd expect to hear from the Ministry of Culture in some ghastly place (dare I write it?) such as Pol Pot's Cambodia.

But George should have known better. This letter of Jefferson's is utterly characteristic of views he expressed many different ways. Jefferson quite blithely wrote that America's Constitution would not be adequate to defend what he called liberty, that there would have to be a new revolution every 15 or 20 years, and that the tree of liberty needed to be nourished regularly with a fresh supply of patriot blood.

Jefferson's well-known sentimental view of the merits of sturdy yeomen farmers as citizens of a republic and his intense dislike for industry and urbanization bear an uncanny resemblance to Pol Pot's beliefs. Throwing people out of cities to become honorable peasants back on the land, even those who never saw a farm, was precisely how Pol Pot managed to kill at least a million people in Cambodia.

What is it about many of those on the right relishing the deaths of others in the name of ideology? You see, much like the "chickenhawks" now running Washington, sending others off to die, Jefferson never lifted a musket during the Revolution. While serving as governor of Virginia, he set a pathetic example of supporting the war's desperate material needs. He also gave us a comic-opera episode of dropping everything and running feverishly away from approaching British troops in Virginia (there was an official inquiry over the episode). Jefferson turned down his first diplomatic appointment to Europe by the new government out of fear of being captured by British warships, a fear that influenced neither Benjamin Franklin nor John Adams.

But real heroes aren't always, or even usually, soldiers. Jefferson, despite a long and successful career and a legacy of fine words (expressing thoughts largely cribbed from European writers), cannot be credited with any significant personal sacrifice over matters of principle during his life. He wouldn't give up luxury despite his words about slavery. He never risked a serious clash with the Virginia Establishment over slave laws during his rise in state politics. And in his draft of the Declaration of Independence, he lamely and at length blamed the king of England for the slave trade, yet, when he wrote the words, it was actually in his interest to slow the trade and protect the value of his existing human holdings.

Unlike Mr. Lincoln later, who had none of his advantages of education and good social contacts, Jefferson did not do well as a lawyer. He never earned enough to pay his own way, his thirst for luxury far outstripping even the capacity of his many high government positions and large number of slaves to generate wealth. Again, unlike Mr. Lincoln, Jefferson was not especially conscientious about owing people money, and he frequently continued buying luxuries like silver buckles and fine carriages while he still owed substantial sums.

Jefferson spent most of his productive years in government service, yet he never stopped railing against the evils of government. There's more than a passing resemblance here to the empty slogans of government-service lifers like Bob Dole and Newt Gingrich who enjoy their government pensions and benefits even as they still complain about government. Jefferson's most famous quote praises the least possible government, yet, as President, he brought a virtual reign of terror to New England with his attempts to enforce an embargo against England (the "Anglomen" as this very prejudiced man typically called the English).

Jefferson, besides having some truly ridiculous beliefs, like those about the evils of central banks or the health efficacy of soaking your feet in ice water every morning, definitely had a very dark side. Any of his political opponents would readily have testified to this. Jefferson was the American Machiavelli.

It was this side of him that put Philip Freneau on the federal payroll in order to subsidize the man's libelous newspaper attacks on Washington's government - this while Jefferson served in that very government. At another point, Jefferson hired James Callender to dig up and write filth about political opponents, an effort which backfired when Callender turned on Jefferson for not fulfilling promises. Callender famously dug out and publicized the story about Sally Hemings, Jefferson's slave-mistress, his late wife's illegitimate half-sister (slavery made for some amazing family relationships), a story we now know almost certainly to be true (by the way, dates point to Sally's beginning to serve Jefferson in this capacity at 13 or 14 years old). It was this dark side of Jefferson that resulted in a ruthless, years-long vendetta against Aaron Burr for the sin of appearing to challenge Jefferson's election to the presidency.

Jefferson expressed himself in embarrassingly clear terms about his belief in black inferiority. And it is important to note that in doing so, he violated one of his basic principles of remaining skeptical and not accepting what was not proved, so this, clearly, was something he believed deeply. There is also reliable evidence that on one occasion he was observed by a visitor beating a slave, quite contradicting Jefferson's public-relations pretensions to saintly paternalism.

When Napoleon sent an army attempting to subdue the slaves who had revolted and formed a republic on what is now Haiti, President Jefferson gave his full consent and support to the bloody (and unsuccessful) effort.

Hero? I have no idea how George Will defines the word, but by any meaningful standard, Jefferson utterly fails.

Read the book, and decide for yourself.

Character assasination posing as biography.......2004-06-27

Having much respected O'Brien's writings on Irish history, I was thoroughly looking forward to his take on Thomas Jefferson. Was Jefferson a secret supporter of the Great Terror of the French revolution? Sadly, this is not a biography so much as it is a hatchet job. Jefferson was no saint. So what? Saints don't make for interesting lives anyway. But most of O'Brien's attacks are not substantiated; they're of the "this is the opinion I formed the other day while shaving" variety. This unremitting character assassination -- screed may be a better word -- is not worth the paper it is printed on.

An indictment of Thomas Jefferson's Legacy.......2004-04-04

Jefferson is one of the most revered fathers of the United States.
His sphinx-like profile, while showing some fissure, can still command today great reverence. Most of biographies about him underline the romantic-like élan and the inspiring vision that constitute his legacy, while alluding marginally and with benign neglect to the many inconsistencies that characterize his life.

I happened to read this essay, shortly after "American Sphinx" by J.J Ellis: the leaflet on the book promised to mount an indictment of Jefferson's ideal heritage, and the credential of the writer, a former UN official, were flawless. I must admit that the book did exceed the most optimistic expectation.

While I cannot agree completely with the indictment and the conclusion (the threat posed by Jefferson legacy to American Civil religion), I did greatly enjoy this reading. It demands respect for the quantity of the documents scrutinized, for the careful philological method used to interpret them, for the sharp logic used in building up the case and for the careful balancing and evaluation of different perspectives.

This is a detailed analysis of the political thought of Thomas Jefferson.Not a personal attack to the man: private life and biography enter only when it may be of help in understanding the development of his political ideas. The indictment is focused especially in the exposing of the grand smoke-screen that revolutionary rhetoric offered him to resist the more liberal attitudes of others revolutionary leading figures. In other words Jefferson, more or less knowingly, appropriated of the grand ideals of the Revolution not to further a new order but to rescue the conservative attitudes of the South and in this attempt he helped to create a dangerous compromise, responsible for the Civil War and still present - under different aspects - in the American political thought. This divorce between action and thought permits to account for the apparently "mistakes" of the man Jefferson: his lenient judgement of the French revolution - even in the most bloodied hours of the Terror, his attitudes towards slavery, his many slips both in private life and in the political arena. And that same obscurity is responsible for the romantic aura that still surrounds his myth.

A weakness of the book is that is often very "dry" in style: terse, but a bit too concise and uninspiring.This is possibly caused by a rather excessive focusing on the main theme: everything has been developed as in an effort to economy. Biography is almost reduced to mere facts and - as I told before - enters only when that can help to understand Jefferson's political ideas, the Enlightenment ideals and the revolution are narrowed to the theme considered (it is not even mentioned the famous letter about "whether one generation of men has a right to bind another") and there's almost no attempt to psychological analysis. The force of Logic supersedes Rhetoric. Possibly this is a voluntary effort to expose Jefferson's rhetoric in the name of hard substance, but none the less I believe the book could be much more pleasant with some touch of colour.

Possibly a lesser fault is also the neglect in analysing the Jefferson role and place in the European Society of the Ancient Regime.After all Jefferson (with Franklin and maybe more than Franklin) was one of the most "European" of the revolutionary leaders. He denied often the links, he showed to despise the European models, and yet he still is a leading figure in pre-revolutionary France (he was friend with Lafayette, with Condorcet, with the salon of madame Helvetius) and his ideas can be best explained on the light of the European pre-romantic movement, with all the emphasis on contrast between heart-purity-uncorrupted nature-individual versus mind-civilities-corruption of progress-society.An analysis of this attitudes could have cast light on the "divorce" of the ideal man (the Jefferson thinker-philosopher) from the actual man (the Jefferson slave owner and cunning political man), a divorce that is typical of many - if not most - European pre-romantics (Rousseau, but also the first Goethe).

While much has been written about the debt to British and Scottish Enlightenment, as far as I know, it seems a balanced assessment of the mutual debt of European pre-revolutionary society and American Revolutionary Thought is still lacking.And yet in Paris we can observe a great turmoil of ideas - in which American intellectuals have a leading role: Franklin and Jefferson, of course, but also Adams, Jay, Paine,... A closer look to that vanished world of late Enlightenment of Literary Salons, Masonic lodges, Enlightened Monarchs and rebel Intellectuals could help to rewrite history and understand many of its inconsistencies.

Struggle for a Continent: The French and Indian Wars: 1689-1763 (The American Story)

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Struggle for a Continent: The French and Indian Wars: 1689-1763 (The American Story)
Betsy Maestro
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0688134505
Release Date: 2000-09-05

Book Description

As early as 1630, Spain, France, England, and the Netherlands had settlements or colonies in North America. Always looking for ways to expand their territory, these European nations were constantly at war with one another over trade, borders, and religious differences. Beginning in 1689, their conflicts in Europe spread across the Atlantic to America. Over the next seventy years, competing European powers would battle for control of the New World. The winner would take the prize -- all of North America.

Struggle for a Continent tells the riveting story of the French and Indian Wars seventy-four years of fighting that determined the destiny of the future United States.

Notable Children's Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies 2001, National Council for SS & Child. Book Council

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yay textbooks
A Great Text by a Great Teacher
It's all here
Just Enough

The French Revolution
Owen Connelly
Manufacturer: Wadsworth Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0155078666

Book Description

This classic work on the French Revolution and Napoleonic era has been thoroughly updated to reflect the most recent scholarship on a magnificently complex epoch. Appropriate for upper-level French Revolution and Napoleonic era courses, this text's primary purpose is to give students the generally accepted "story" of the era and to furnish them with the basic knowledge to put in context the more sophisticated works listed in the bibliography.

Customer Reviews:

yay textbooks.......2007-01-31

Shipping time was good, I actually received the book a little before I expected it. The condition of the book was excellent, as promised.

A Great Text by a Great Teacher.......2004-09-17

I had the pleasure of having Professor Conelly this past summer for a class on the French Revolution and Napoleon at the University of South Carolina. This book was the only text for the class. Reading a book is one thing, but hearing it straight from the horse's mouth is another entirely.

I didn't realize just how well known and respected he was until I saw him interviewed on a NOVA special on Napoleon. Trust me, this guy knows what he's talking about, and he writes a simple, concise, easy-to-read explanation of France from 1789 - 1815.

It's all here.......2003-02-11

I completely agree with the previous review in every respect except I feel the book deserves more stars, given the "rating inflation" prevalent with so many of the titles reviewed. I wouldn't want anyone to be put off getting this book. Connelly has squeezed an incredible amount of information into a small amount of space. As usual, he is clear and entertaining. People interested in the period should check out his other titles.

Just Enough.......2001-09-29

Ideal for those starting out on their study of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Era (as one would expect from a university history text), Owen Connelly's modest volume has much to recommend it: fresh, readable style; decent maps, a comprehensive bibliography (pointing the way for future purchases!) and quite a few interesting little kernels that one seldom comes across. I particularly enjoyed his insights into the siblings of Napoleon; Jerome's sponsorship of Gauss, Louis' campaign for breast-feeding, Joseph's conversion of El Prado into an art museum. I heartily recommend this book as an excellent staging ground for future operations into the hinterlands of Napoleonic literature. I also recommend Connelly's BLUNDERING TO GLORY as a vey good next step on your journey.

Sister Republics: The Origin of French and American Republicanism

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Sister Republics: The Origin of French and American Republicanism
Patrice Higonnet
Manufacturer: Harvard University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Great reading
awesome
A Novel Approach to History
Finally a different view!
AMAZING FACT FILLED BOOK

Eye of the Eagle
Robert E. Wilczak
Manufacturer: BookSurge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1419623729
Release Date: 2007-02-22

Book Description

The story of General Benedict Arnold's defection to the British in September of 1780 has never been presented in this way. â€œBrilliantly conceived and thoroughly researched book. A fascinating new look at one of historyâ€™s most infamous men. You-are-there feel of a novel. Thought-provoking, intriguing and historically important, Eye of the Eagle will truly open your eyesâ€. New York Times best-selling author Ellen Tanner Marsh

Customer Reviews:

Great reading.......2007-07-29

I very good book that gives the reader an interesting twist on what was believed to be gospel. The author's research is convincing.

awesome .......2007-04-20

An awesome book....definitely a different view .... a must read for anyone seeking to truely understand Benedict Arnold's story.

A Novel Approach to History.......2007-04-19

Who would have thought that what was assumed by the average student of American history to be an open and shut case against Benedict Arnold could be brought into question. And, furthermore, to do so with such detailed facts woven into a rather gripping novel format. Mr. WIlczak has laid out a compelling case that Arnold was not a traitor but a collaborator with George Washington to ultimately fool the British. This book could be the basis of an excellent movie.

Finally a different view!.......2007-04-13

This book expresses a thoroughly researched, fresh approach to one of history's most infamous legends. When I began to read the book I felt my feelings regarding Benedict Arnold could not be swayed. The author, however, through meticulous use of timeline, documented fact, and letters of many of the involved, opened my eyes to the possibility that Arnold may have been the protaganist in a great scheme to free the colonies and help create the United States. I highly recommend this book to anyone who seeks the truth instead of the commonly handed down history stories we have been fed since childhood. AAAAA+++++

AMAZING FACT FILLED BOOK.......2007-03-27

Well written and amazing to read. Author captured the moment and took you there. Book was flooded with facts.

I would highly recommend this book, it is not only for the history buffs.
If you do enjoy history, you will love the author's details.

The Oxford History of the French Revolution

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A Very Solid History of the French Revolution
Comprehensive and Insightful
Excellent Introduction
Dense but informative
A bloodless account.

The Oxford History of the French Revolution
William Doyle
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 019925298X

Book Description

This new edition of the most authoritative, comprehensive history of the French Revolution of 1789 draws on a generation of extensive research and scholarly debate to reappraise the most famous of all revolutions. Updates for this second edition include a generous chronology of events, plus an extended bibliographical essay providing an examination of the historiography of the Revolution. Opening with the accession of Louis XVI in 1774, the book traces the history of France through revolution, terror, and counter-revolution, to the triumph of Napoleon in 1802, and analyses the impact of events both in France itself and the rest of Europe. William Doyle shows how a movement which began with optimism and general enthusiasm soon became a tragedy, not only for the ruling orders, but for the millions of ordinary people all over Europe whose lives were disrupted by religious upheaval, and civil and international war. It was they who paid the price for the destruction of the old political order and the struggle to establish a new one, based on the ideals of liberty and revolution, in the face of widespread indifference and hostility.

Customer Reviews:

A Very Solid History of the French Revolution.......2007-09-13

I wanted to learn about the French Revolution in less than 500 pages and after reading this book, I'm glad I bought it.

Doyle's tome is uniquely comprehensive without being burdensome. He methodically, yet briskly, establishes the patchwork of politics, economies and personalities of 18th Century France that conspired to lead the country into a terrifying and bloody Revolution.

There may be greater (and longer) books on the subject, but ounce-for-ounce, this is probably one of the best.

Comprehensive and Insightful.......2006-11-25

"The Oxford History of the French Revolution", by William Doyle is among the best books that I have read on the French Revolution. It is comprehensive (some would say it is dense) and covers in about 420 pages all the most important events of the Revolution. The author tells the chilling story of the French Revolution, stressing the roles of the leading characters that shaped events during this period. Among these people were Robespierre, Murat, Danton, King Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antoinette, Napoleon Bonaparte and others as well as the external and internal forces that were attempting to crash the Revolution.

The book gives a grim account of the complete and utter chaos of the time, including the dreadful description of how things went out of hand, the reign of terror, senseless executions including the beheading of the King and Queen of France. The shocking mistakes, for example with respect to the Catholic Church, and the attempt to establish a State sponsored church are highlighted. One gets the feel of the impact of mob rule and what happens in the absence of the rule of law.

William Doyle meticulously researched the book resulting in a minefield of information that students of the French Revolution will find useful and important. The book is full of non-stop action.

This is a well written book that is interesting to read. Those who wish to get a comprehensive study of the French Revolution should enjoy reading this book. However, the book is too long for someone without previous knowledge of the French Revolution.

Excellent Introduction.......2005-05-15

The French Revolution is one of the most important events in modern history, went on for the better part of a decade, involved a large number of significant personages, has complex political, social, economic, and ideological dimensions, has generated a huge literature, and interpretation has been controversial often. This list gives an idea of the challenges involved in producing a good one volume overview. Despite these obstacles, William Doyle succeeds with a lucid and enjoyable book that seems not to neglect any important areas and is generally evenhanded in dealing with controversial issues.
Doyle presents the Revolution as a highly contingent event precipitated by the fiscal collapse of the French Monarchy, exacerbated by recent history of economic difficulties due to irregular and often poor harvests in France in the decade prior to the Revolution. Doyle is very good also on the long term trends - the increasing size of the bourgeosie, the rising literacy and importance of public opinion, the Enlightenment influenced disillusion with the sometimes arbitrary nature of traditional government - that set the stage for the Revolution and had a large effect on its outcomes. Still, Doyle's emphasis is on the basis narrative and he does very well in telling the story of the Revolution without either getting too bogged down in details or sliding over important issues. I recommend, however, that the first half of this book be read in conjunction with Doyle's concise (about 200 pages in a paperback edition) book on the Origins of the French Revolution. There is some redundancy in the narrative when reading both books but the Origins book stresses the underlying structural features in a complementary manner.
Doyle goes on with a sustained narrative to Napoleon's seizure of power. Doyle covers very well the achievements and common disastrous mistakes of the Revolutionary period. Some of these mistakes, like the disastrously mistaken policies towards the Catholic Church, were responsible for generating implacable hostility, both within and outside France, to the Revolution. A consistent theme is that war against internal and external enemies was a powerful radicalizing force, often responsible for many of the serious errors and crimes of the Revolution. Many sections are excellent; his discussion of revolutionary imperialism, for example, nicely explores the apparent paradox of a liberation movement becoming a ruthless exploiter. Doyle's description of the oscillations of the Revolution and the corrupt behavior of the last Revolutionary government, the Directory, give a very good sense of why so many people must have welcomed the dictatorship of Napoleon.
Doyle concludes with an interpretative chapter on the Revolution. In common with many recent historians, he sees the Revolution as a social disaster precipitated by good intentions. Among other causes, he cites the overconfidence of the original revolutionaries that they could remake society on rational grounds. This is both conventional and contains a lot of truth. For example, the attack on the Church essentially destroyed France's largest educational institution and its largest source of poor relief, both with severe adverse consequences. Doyle doesn't mention, however, that the Revolution engendered (largely under Napoleon) educational institutions that made French science and mathematics the world leader well into the 19th century. It is also possible to argue that one of the defects of the initial revolutionaries was not that they were too radical but that in important domains they weren't radical enough. In finance, the Revolution maintained the traditional French aversion to a strong state central bank like the Bank of England, something that might have mitigated the financial problems of the revolutionary governments. In the newly founded USA, the first Bank of the United States did play an important role in putting our governments on a firm footing. In religion, the initial revolutionaries attempted to rationalize and democratize the Church, with disastrous consequences. But, they wished to maintain a state sponsored Church, another traditional French approach. What if they had taken the really radical step of disestablishing religion and simply left religous practice alone?
In summary, this is an excellent book to begin study of the French Revolution.

Dense but informative.......2005-03-30

Professor Doyle captures the intricacies of France leading to the French Revolution. His piece can be somewhat dense in parts which further detracts from the subject when mixed with the several grammatical and spelling errors contained within. While the style and format could be improved, the book is filled with useful information. Worth the read if you can get past the mildly annoying inaccuracies.

A bloodless account........2003-07-22

This book has all the virtues--and all the vices---of academic history. The facts are all there and the professor is admirably fair and balanced, so hard to find when the French Revolution is the subject at hand, but where's the passion? I confess I found myself constantly checking how many pages to go as I neared the end of these over four hundred dry pages. This is a book for the student more than the general reader looking for the passion behind the facts, or for exciting narrative. At the end I was happier to have finished than to have read this book.

Breaking The Backcountry: Seven Years War In Virginia And Pennsylvania 1754-1765

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Good insight
The Seven Years' War in PA and VA
Focus on the Frontier
An Excellent History
Excellent

Breaking The Backcountry: Seven Years War In Virginia And Pennsylvania 1754-1765
Matthew C. Ward
Manufacturer: University of Pittsburgh Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0822958651

Customer Reviews:

Good insight.......2007-01-21

The author gives a good insight as to why the backcountry of both Pennslyvania and Virginia were inept in trying to quell the Indian raids of the period during the French and Indian war. I had read a lot of books on this era, but this is the first to tackle the reasons why.

The Seven Years' War in PA and VA.......2006-01-25

Matthew Ward has written an excellent account of the Seven Years' War as it played out along the frontier of Pennsylvania and Virginia. He begins with a chapter on the development of the backcountry (roughly the area west of the Susquehanna River in PA and the Upper Shenandoah Valley region of VA) and how events there became a struggle of occupation between the French and English, especially as they played out through the trade relations both countries developed with the Indians. Population soared in this area during the 1700s, and settlers' visions went beyond the Appalachians to the Ohio Valley.

Ward discusses the effects of the fur trade, the frontier attitudes and how they differed from those of urban dwellers, and the question of who would control the Ohio Valley as important concerns in setting the stage for conflict. Of course, he tells of Braddock's expedition and defeat and how that unleashed a great number of raids and depredations against the settlers in the Cumberland and Shenandoah Valleys. The western settlers in PA had much difficulty getting the Quaker rulers in Philadelphia to appreciate the tremendous bellicosity that existed between them and the Indians (under French control), and their need for supplies, weapons, even soldiers to prevent all of central PA from being totally evacuated. Hundred of people were being killed and much property destroyed. Sometimes settler groups took matters into their own hands to defend themselves or protest against what they considered an uncaring government (the Paxton Boys). Ward covers all of this carefully and insightfully.

The Forbes expedition to recapture Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh) is dealt with, especially the controversy over which route to take, the old Braddock Road up from Cumberland, MD, or a new road through central PA (the latter was chosen, over the protests of Virginian George Washington, because it was shorter and forded fewer streams). After the British took firm control of the Forks of the Ohio, Indian relations broke down, fueled by the French. This led to Pontiac's rebellion, a last-ditch effort by the Indians to expel the English; one by one the British forts began to fall until only three remained standing (Niagara, Detroit, and Ft. Pitt). The backcountry was in flames once again. Col. Henry Bouquet led a force across Forbes's old road to Ft. Pitt, and a few miles short of it fought a battle at Bushy Run with a large contingency of Indians; Bouquet's victory stabilized events until a larger force could be raised and sent into the Ohio Valley the next year (1764) to put the conflict to rest once and for all.

The book is scholarly and academic, but it's not dry. I found his focus on Virginia and especially Pennsylvania to be informative and fascinating. The war as it played out in PA is of particular interest to me, so I found Ward's book most welcome and enlightening. There aren't too many surprises in his account, no grand revisionist theories, just straightforward history related wisely and with style. Highly recommended.

Focus on the Frontier.......2005-05-02

Historians of the Seven Years War have often neglected to give much attention to the waging of that war in the backcountry of Pennsylvania and Virginia, preferring instead to concentrate on the conquest of Canada. Most of the set-piece, European style battles of that war happened in Canada or New York, and the conquest of Canada is generally viewed as the most important accomplishment of that war in North America. Yet it was in the backcountry of Pennsylvania where this first truly global war started, and its causes lay in the dispute between the English settlers of Virginia and Pennsylvania with the French over control of the rich country of the Ohio River Valley. And no area of North America suffered more from that war than did the frontier settlements of Pennsylvania and Virginia. Matthew Ward has taken on this oft neglected subject, and has given us an excellent book detailing the war as it was fought in the backcountry.
Ward opens by detailing the disputes between the Pennsylvanian and Virginian colonist with the French power in Canada over who had rightful claim to the Ohio country. He touches on the winter journey of young George Washington on his unsuccessful diplomatic mission to the French at Fort LeBoeuf, and his even more disastrous military expedition and defeat at the Great Meadows the following year. (Washington's ill-fated expedition is often cited as the unofficial beginning of the Seven Years War.) He then moves on to the disaster of Braddock's expedition and massacre, which marked both the official beginning of the war, and the beginnings of several years of savage, bloody raids on the backcountry, raids that nearly depopulated the entire frontier.
The war in the backcountry was not a war of set-piece battles, but one of small, guerilla style raids by bands of Indians, sometimes accompanied by French soldiers. They were repeatedly able to strike settlements quickly, wreck maximum damage, and retire before any resistance could be organized. In some instances, they engaged in psychological warfare, by purposely leaving mutilated bodies of women and children to horrify and terrorize the colonist. (This was a novel development, deviating from traditional Indian warfare, where women and children were valued as captives and generally not killed.) In this manner, the French and Indians, though numerically inferior to the English colonists, were able to devastate the Pennsylvanian and Virginian frontiers.
Ward goes into great detail over the problems these two colonies had in forming any kind of effective military resistance to these raids on the backcountry. Neither colony had any previous military tradition, as both had enjoyed long periods of peaceful relations with their native neighbors. In addition, the population of the frontier was fragmented over issues of race and religion, had developed few community binding institutions, and had no clear elites who could naturally step into roles of military leadership. In Pennsylvania, the problem of organizing an effective defense force also ran up against the pacifistic beliefs of the Quakers who dominated politics in that colony.
Ward does an outstanding job of holding a historical magnifying glass to the situation of the backcountry between Braddock's massacre and the successful Forbes expedition that finally came to terms with the Indians and chased the French from the forks of the Ohio River, effectively ending the war along the frontier. He also deals with the troubled relations between the English and the Indians after the establishment of Fort Pitt at the forks, and ends with Pontiac's Uprising, that Indian war that was the post script of the Seven Years War.
If your primary interest is in the history of the regions covered in the book, then `Breaking the Backcountry' can be appreciated as a stand-alone book. If, however, your principal interest is in the Seven Years War, I would recommend reading it as a supplement, after reading a book that gives the full sweep of that war. `Crucible of War'. By Fred Anderson is an excellent place to begin to discover the big picture of that war.
`Breaking the Backcountry' effectively puts a focus on an often overlooked but crucial aspect of the first great global war. It is well written, carefully researched, and I enthusiastically recommend it.

Theo Logos

An Excellent History.......2004-06-03

Matthew Ward's interesting and informative book is a meticulously researched social and military history of the Seven Years' War. It will be of special interest to those who live in those parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia that in the mid-18th century were part of the "backcountry" where most of the fierce fighting took place. Social, economic, and religious divisions among the inhabitants of the backcountry play a prominent role in this story as does the diplomacy between various Indian tribes and the British and the French. British military ineptness along with the scandalous treatment of the Indians by greedy colonial landowners and unscrupulous British agents are central themes of the book. As students of American history know, this fascinating conflict between the British and French (and their native American allies) generated issues that led directly to the American revolution of 1776. If you want to read one book on the Seven Years' War, this is a good place to start.

Excellent.......2004-04-07

Well-written, well researched book on Seven Years War in a "war and society" type of format. Good military history, without getting bogged down in too much detail.

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