Refugees of the French Revolution : French Emigres in London, 1789-1802

The refugee population in London provides a snapshot of life in exile during the French Revolution. London had the largest community of emigres. It had the most evolved social structure and was the most active political lobby. Britain, the only European country to provide the emigres with financial assistance, was unique as a host nation because the British had nothing political to gain from offering their support. Yet, despite the contradictions and ironies of the Protestant British helping the Catholic French, this interlude, a short one, touched the very hearts of the two nations. Refugees of the French Revolution questions accepted interpretations of Emigration and puts a human face on the hardship produced by revolutionary legislation which required only a simple identification check to condemn an emigre caught on French soil to death. 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ...' The refugee population in London provides a snapshot of life in exile during the French Revolution. London had the largest community of ̌migřs. It had the most evolved social structure and was the most active political lobby. Britain, the only European country to provide the ̌migřs with financial assistance, was unique as a host nation because the British had nothing political to gain from offering their support. Yet, despite the contradictions and ironies of the Protestant British helping the Catholic French, this interlude, a short one, touched the very hearts of the two nations. Refugees of the French Revolution questions accepted interpretations of Emigration and puts a human face on the hardship produced by revolutionary legislation which required only a simple identification check to condemn an ̌migř caught on French soil to death. 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . .' Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 8 Lists of Figures and Tables......Page 9 List of Illustrations......Page 10 Acknowledgements......Page 14 Introduction......Page 15 1 First Impressions......Page 30 2 1789–92: a Prolonged Vacation......Page 46 3 1792: the Influx......Page 58 4 Soho......Page 78 5 Marylebone, Richmond, Hampstead – the High Life......Page 91 6 St Pancras, Somerstown, Saint George's Fields – the Low Life......Page 116 7 Educational Pursuits......Page 129 8 Politics: Their Own Worst Enemies?......Page 145 9 Émigré Writers and Writing about Émigrés......Page 162 10 Franco-British Culture and Society......Page 184 Conclusion......Page 204 Appendix 1 Chronology......Page 214 Appendix 2 Figures and Tables......Page 218 Notes......Page 235 Bibliography......Page 272 C......Page 285 L......Page 286 S......Page 287 Y......Page 288 Annotation "The refugee population in London provides a snapshot of life in exile during the French Revolution. London had the largest community of emigres. It had the most evolved social structure and was the most active political lobby. Britain, the only European country to provide the emigres with financial assistance, was unique as a host nation because the British had nothing political to gain from offering their support." "Refugees of the French Revolution questions accepted interpretations of Emigration and puts a human face on the hardship produced by revolutionary legislation which required only a simple identification check to condemn an emigre caught on French soil to death."--BOOK JACKET. Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved "The refugee population in London provides a snapshot of life in exile during the French Revolution. London had the largest community of emigres. It had the most evolved social structure and was the most active political lobby. Britain, the only European country to provide the emigres with financial assistance, was unique as a host nation because the British had nothing political to gain from offering their support."--BOOK JACKET. "Refugees of the French Revolution questions accepted interpretations of Emigration and puts a human face on the hardship produced by revolutionary legislation which required only a simple identification check to condemn an emigre caught on French soil to death."--BOOK JACKET. Kirsty Carpenter puts a human face on the victims of revolutionary legislation. London had the largest community of émigrés. It had the most evolved social structure and was the most politically-active community. It was in London that two cultures came face-to-face with their prejudices and were forced to confront them. Kirsty Carpenter puts a human face on the victims of revolutionary legislation. London had the largest community of emigres. It had the most evolved social structure and was the most politically-active community. It was in London that two cultures came face-to-face with their prejudices and were forced to confront them. This volume focuses on the victims of revolutionary legislation. London had the largest community of French emigres. It had the most evolved social structure and was the most politically active community. In London, two cultures came face to face with their prejudices and were confronted them