There was a program on recently. I shan't link to it. It was a horrendous mess, the nadir of televised history.....and I've see a David Starkey program. Insulting, edited like fucking Pride and Prejudice, devoid of either an engaged proposition, putting forward a case or a objective sense of balance, examining various schools. Filled with a crap series of mind blowingly incorrect 'recreations' and a dirty pompous sense of itself as somehow 'mind blowing' rather than a sad and patronising retread of Furet II.
How do the producers of such tripe sleep at night?
I might, if the fury dies down, point out why it is so bad. However my teeth ache from the grinding as I waded through such swill
3 comments:
is that a dutch wood carving? If so, interesting choice
PS - what would be the best single volume introduction to the French Revolution and it's importance?
Twas the first thing that came out of google images. I believe it shows the arrest of Robespierre and the near exchange of fire.
Whilst somewhat behind the times with regards to interpretation, William Doyle's Oxford History of the FR is probably the definative work, factually rich and covers a lot of the less well known areas.
On the terror, I must heartily suggest Hugh Gould's short and consise introduction to both the chronology and the schools of thought, The terror and the FR.
The outstanding work to my mind is Goodness beyond reason by Patrice de Higonnet. An amazing exploration of the Jacobin world view and their actions.
Although he basically rips off Furet and is then rude enough not to quote him, Schama's Citizens does include some glorious vignettes of pre-revolutionary France. He's all at sea once it ceases to be petticoats and salons and basically recycles a load of old burkean tripe.
I would add Rude and 'the great fear' as well as Zamoyski's 'holy fools'
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