Citizens

by Simon Schama

ISBN: 9-780-141-017273

First published 1989

741 pages

Publisher: Penguin.com

Cover illustrations: Brothers Le Sueur – Demolition of the Bastille (back) and Four men carrying a model of the Bastille (front).

3 / 5 Stars

This is really three books in one.

1. A cultural tour through immediate pre-revolutionary and revolutionary France. Through the use of detailed and descriptive vignettes Schama describes the rich cultural life of 17th Century France. For instance the work on the harbour in Cherbourg (Blue Horizons, Red Ink), or the commercialisation of the Fall of the Bastille (The Afterlife of the Bastille). This work is outstanding and deserves 5 / 5 Stars.
2. A history of the French Revolution, with the interventions of foreign powers, the scheming of leaders, the rebellions and the counter-revolution. This is interesting but fails to weave a strong narrative. When did Britain and Austria come together? Why were The Netherlands involved? This is weak because the explanations are too short with no background as you would expect in a history book. 3 / 5 Stars.
3. The politics of the French Revolution, the Jacobin Clubs, the Girondin resistance, the Thermidor Reaction, their places in the assemblies, how they brokered deals, how those deals came together, and then how they fell apart. For this aspect, potentially the most interesting, Schama adopts the unlikely position that the reader will already have prior knowledge of these movements, (and there were many more than are listed), and be familiar with the French Revolution. Many politicians had their turn until they were devoured by the same forces they tried to control, but there is little exposition or placement of them in a historical context. No narrative, no characterisation. As a reader we need background and context, and yes there were many elements in motion but the book has 741 and there is enough space to write an explanation. 2 / 5 Stars.

In summary then a worthwhile read – even though it could be better edited – however it will give the reader an understanding of the tragedy of the French Revolution. A Revolution that failed to feed the population, a Revolution that failed to protect the population from outside invaders, and a Revolution that failed to protect the population from corruption and tyranny. A failure on all accounts.