The Bourgeois Revolution in France 1789-1815 (Berghahn Monographs in French Studies (5))

In the last generation the classic Marxist interpretation of the French Revolution has been challenged by the so-called revisionist school. The Marxist view that the Revolution was a bourgeois and capitalist revolution has been questioned by Anglo-Saxon revisionists like Alfred Cobban and William Doyle as well as a French school of criticism headed by François Furet. Today revisionism is the dominant interpretation of the Revolution both in the academic world and among the educated public. Against this conception, this book reasserts the view that the Revolution - the capital event of the modern age - was indeed a capitalist and bourgeois revolution. Based on an analysis of the latest historical scholarship as well as on knowledge of Marxist theories of the transition from feudalism to capitalism, the work confutes the main arguments and contentions of the revisionist school while laying out a narrative of the causes and unfolding of the Revolution from the eighteenth century to the Napoleonic Age. In The Last Generation The Classic Marxist Interpretation Of The French Revolution Has Been Challenged By The So-called Revisionist School. The Marxist View That The Revolution Was A Bourgeois And Capitalist Revolution Has Been Questioned By Anglo-saxon Revisionists Like Alfred Cobban And William Doyle As Well As A French School Of Criticism Headed By Francois Furet. Today Revisionism Is The Dominant Interpretation Of The Revolution Both In The Academic World And Among The Educated Public. Against This Conception, This Book Reasserts The View That The Revolution -- The Capital Event Of The Modern Age -- Was Indeed A Capitalist And Bourgeois Revolution. Based On An Analysis Of The Latest Historical Scholarship As Well As On Knowledge Of Marxist Theories Of The Transition From Feudalism To Capitalism, The Work Confutes The Main Arguments And Contentions Of The Revisionist School While Laying Out A Narrative Of The Causes And Unfolding Of The Revolution From The Eighteenth Century To The Napoleonic Age.--publisher's Website. Ch. 1. Questioning Revisionism -- Ch. 2. Capitalism And The Eighteenth Century French Economy -- Ch. 3. Capitalism, Wage Labor, And The Bourgeoisie -- Ch. 4. The Revolutionary Crisis -- Ch. 5. The Economy In Revolution (1789-1799) -- Ch. 6. The Directory (1795-1799) -- Ch. 7. The Era Of Napoleon (1799-1815). Henry Heller. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [151]-166) And Index. Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Table of Contents 7 Preface 9 Introduction 12 Chapter 1 Questioning Revisionism 20 Chapter 2 Capitalism and the Eighteenth Century French Economy 38 Chapter 3 Capitalism, Wage Labor, and the Bourgeoisie 56 Chapter 4 The Revolutionary Crisis 76 Chapter 5 The Economy in Revolution (1789-1799) 94 Chapter 6 The Directory (1795-1799) 120 Chapter 7 The Era of Napoleon (1799-1815) 136 Conclusion 158 Bibliography 162 Index 178 Acknowledgements Preface Introduction Chapter 1. Questioning Revisionism Chapter 2. Capitalism and the Eighteenth Century French Economy Chapter 3. Capitalism, Wage Labor, and the Bourgeoisie Chapter 4. The Revolutionary Crisis Chapter 5. The Economy in Revolution (1789-1799) Chapter 6. The Directory (1795-1799) Chapter 7. The Era of Napoleon (1799-1815) Conclusion Bibliography Index This work seeks to reclaim the idea that the French Revolution was a bourgeois revolution.