Discussion Topic: French Revolution And Its Legacies

Some Questions

Required Common Reading

Robert Darnton, "What Was Revolutionary About The French Revolution?," New York Review Of Books (January 19, 1989).

Possible Starting Places

"The French Revolution's Legacy," In Our Times, BBC Radio 4, June 14, 2001: An interesting 45-minute audio documentary in which the panel participants discuss the importance of the French Revolution.
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity -- Exploring The French Revolution: A collaborative project between the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University and the American Social History Project at City University of New York, this archive includes an impressive collection of images and other primary documents from the Revolution. The "Explore" section provides a very focused and well-done introduction to several aspects of the Revolution.
Lynn Hunt, "The World We Have Gained: The Future Of The French Revolution," American Historical Review, 108 (February 2003): 1-19.
Nancy Nicholas Barker, "Teaching The French Revolution," AHA Perspectives (April 1990).

Articles

Mark Philip, "Britain And The French Revolution," BBC History In-Depth.
J.B. Shank, "Is It Really Over?: The French Revolution Twenty Years After The Bicentennial," French Historical Studies, 32 (Fall 2009): 527-30.
David Andress, "The Shifting Landscape Of Revolutionary Interpretations: A Depth Of the Past And A Rebirth Of History?," French Historical Studies, 32 (Fall 2009): 647-53.
Colin Jones, "Twenty Years After," French Historical Studies, 32 (Fall 2009): 679-87.
"Danton And The French Revolution: Devoured By His Own Creation," Economist (July 16, 2009).
Alexander Zevin, "Marie Antoinette And The Ghosts Of The French Revolution," Cineaste, 32 (Spring 2007): 32-34.
Richard Covington, "Marie Antoinette," Smithsonian (November 2006).
Adam Gopnik, "Headless Horseman: The Reign Of Terror Revisited," New Yorker (June 5, 2006).
John D. Garrigus, "White Jacobins/Black Jacobins: Bringing The Haitian And French Revolutions Together In The Classroom," French Historical Studies, 23 (Spring 2000).
Lynn Hunt, "Forgetting And Remembering: The French Revolution Then And Now," American Historical Review, 100 (October 1995).
Robin Blackburn, "Anti-Slavery And The French Revolution," History Today, 41 (November 1991).
Alexandra Tuttle and Margot Hornblower, "France: Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite," Time (May 1, 1989).
Daniel Singer, "The Revolution Seen Through A Glass Darkly," Nation, 236 (March 12, 1983): 297-99.
Douglas Johnson, "French Revolution," History Today, 32 (January 1982).
Jane Abray, "Feminism In The French Revolution," American Historical Review, 80 (February 1975).

French Revolution In The News

David A. Bell, "The First Total War," Guardian, January 16, 2007.
"Marie-Antoinette Perfume Revived," BBC News, December 13, 2006.
David Jays, "Daughters Of The Revolution," Observer, November 5, 2006.
Darren Waters, "Coppola's Period Drama Falls Flat," BBC News, May 24, 2006.
Adam Thorpe, "Let Them Eat Dirt," Observer, July 2, 2005.
Rafael Behr, "Enemies Of The People," Observer, May 22, 2005.
Henri Astier, "The Deep Roots Of French Secularism," BBC News, September 1, 2004.
"French Royal Heart Laid To Rest," BBC News, June 8, 2004.
Robert MacFarlane, "A Measure To Treasure," Observer, October 6, 2002.
Caryn James, "Books Of The Times; Restoring The French Revolution," New York Times, March 15, 1989.
Richard Bernstein, "The French Revolution: Right Or Wrong?," New York Times, July 16, 1988.

Symbols Of The Revolution

French Revolution Symbols: A sub-section of a site dedicated to Bastille Day and the French Revolution.
La Marseillaise -- Wikipedia: An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.
La Marseillaise: Iaian Patterson's site includes historical background, sheet music and audio files.
Jonathan Glancey, "All Together Now," Guardian, February 10, 2000.
Roy Hattersley, "Blood, Song And Tears," Guardian, February 15, 1999.
Marianne -- Wikipedia: An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.
Marianne And The Motto Of The Republic: Information from the French Prime Minister's office.
Hugh Schofield, "Marianne Challenges French Elite," BBC News, November 2, 2003.
"France Galled By Model Move," BBC News, April 3, 2000.
Bastille Day -- Wikipedia: An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.
Storming Of The Bastille -- Wikipedia: An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.
Bastille Day -- 14 July: Information from the French Prime Minister's office.
"Sarkozy Says 'No' To Mass Pardons," BBC News, July 8, 2007.
The Tricolor Flag: Information from the French Prime Minister's office.
Flag Of France -- Wikipedia: An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.
Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite -- Wikipedia: An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.
Phrygian Cap -- Wikipedia: An entry from the on-line encyclopedia.

Web-Sites

Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite -- The French Revolution: An on-line exhibit from History Wiz.
Marie Antoinette And The French Revolution: The companion web-site for a PBS documentary.
French Revolution, 1770-1814: A Google Books edition of a volume written by Francois Furet.
French Revolution And The Birth Of Modernity: A Google Books edition of a volume edited by Ferenc Feher.

Audio And Video Sites

"The French Revolution's Reign Of Terror," In Our Times, BBC Radio 4, May 26, 2005.