The French Revolution

‘This is more than a history of the French Revolution.It covers all Europe during the revolutionary period,though events in France naturally take ﬁrst place. It isparticularly good on the social and intellectual back-ground. Surprisingly enough, considering that Lefebvrewas primarily an economic historian, it also breaks newground in its account of international relations, and setsthe wars of intervention in their true light. The Frenchhave a taste for what they call works of synthesis, greatgeneral summaries of received knowledge. We mightcall them textbooks, though of the highest level. At anyrate, in its class, whether synthesis or textbook, this isone of the best ever produced.’

A. J. P. Taylor