A New World Begins: The History of the French Revolution

In this brilliant work, Popkin (history, Univ. of Kentucky; A Short History of the French Revolution) sets out to emphasize why the French Revolution still matters, and argues that it continues to have relevance for modern politics. Popkin considers the French Revolution to be a “laboratory” in which all the possibilities and complexities of modern politics were tested for the first time: the tension between liberty and equality, the proper role of religion in society, the use of violence to achieve desired ends, collective responsibility for social welfare, and issues of racism and sexism. Tracing the course of the Revolution from its underlying causes to the destruction of the republic by Napoleon, this book covers quite a lot of material in a highly readable way. The short, tightly organized chapters are enhanced by maps, contemporary political cartoons, and period images. Actors and ideas come alive through eloquent storytelling. The author introduces new characters, such as glazier Jacques-Louis Menetra and the “prairial martyr” Jean-Marie Goujon, into familiar events, helping readers better understand the Revolution’s impact on people’s lives.