A Monument of Historical Literature
The work of Louis Blanc, The History of the French Revolution, is a true monument of literature, history, and sociology. Its analyses remain, despite the passage of time, surprisingly relevant and highly insightful.
📺 Discover Volume 2 of The History of the French Revolution
1789-1792: A Crucial Period in French History
In this second volume, Louis Blanc covers a crucial period in France’s history, notably the time from the calling of the Estates-General in 1789 to the fall of the monarchy in 1792.
Blanc explores the major events that shaped modern France:
- The Storming of the Bastille (July 14, 1789) – The symbol of the end of absolutism
- The Constituent Assembly – The birth of a new political organization
- The first revolutionary measures – The radical transformation of French society
- Growing tensions between revolutionaries and royalist forces
He highlights the political, social, and economic dynamics that shaped this turbulent period, offering a captivating insight into the French Revolution.
The Destruction of Feudalism: A Historical Turning Point
During the French Revolution, the destruction of feudalism was a complex and significant process. The revolutionaries abolished feudal privileges, such as seigneurial rights and forced labor, through decrees like the night of August 4, 1789.
Major transformations:
- Land redistribution – An unprecedented agrarian revolution
- Emancipation of peasants – The end of centuries of feudal domination
- Abolition of noble titles – Equality before the law
- Confiscation of Church property – The weakening of the feudal system
These changes contributed to the emergence of a more egalitarian society and marked the end of the Ancien Régime in France.
Why Read Louis Blanc Today?
Louis Blanc’s work stands out for:
- In-depth sociological analysis – Beyond mere historical facts
- A humanist perspective – Attention to the ordinary actors of the Revolution
- Surprising contemporary relevance – The mechanisms of social transformation remain pertinent
- A captivating literary style – History told like a novel
📚 The Complete Collection The History of the French Revolution
Metvox Publications offers the entire series The History of the French Revolution by Louis Blanc in 12 volumes, available in print and digital formats (ePub, PDF, Kindle):
- Volume 1 – The origins and beginnings of the Revolution
- Volume 2 – From the calling of the Estates-General to the fall of the monarchy (1789-1792)
- Volume 3 – The Convention and the Republic
- Volume 4 – The Terror and its consequences
- Volume 5 – The Directory
- Volume 6 – The consolidation of the Republic
- Volume 7 – The revolutionary wars
- Volume 8 – The rise of Bonaparte
- Volume 9 – The Consulate
- Volumes 10-12 – The Empire and its aftermath
Each volume is available on demand printing (delivery within 10 days with free Chronopost in mainland France) and immediate download for digital formats.
A Reference Work to Understand the Revolution
Volume 2 of The History of the French Revolution is particularly important because it covers the founding years of the French Republic. It was during this period that the foundations of modern France were laid:
- The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen
- The separation of powers
- The abolition of privileges
- The secularization of the state
To Learn More
If you are passionate about the French Revolution, we also recommend:
- Robespierre and the Terror by Albert Mathiez – To understand the period of the Terror
- Danton by Louis Madelin – The biography of an iconic revolutionary
- History of the Wars of the West by Théodore Muret – The counter-revolution in Vendée
Order Volume 2 of The History of the French Revolution now and dive into this fascinating period that changed the course of world history.