Darnton’s book addresses one of the big questions of history – what caused the French Revolution? – through its study of the salacious, seditious and scandalous bestselling books read by the French during the Enlightenment.
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In this remarkable book, Robert Darnton addresses one of the classic 'big questions' of history – what caused the French Revolution? – by beginning with a query of a different order, a more manageable one that can be answered: what did the French read in the years leading up to the Revolution? The answer lies only partially in the canon of the great Enlightenment 'philosophes': Voltaire, Diderot, Montesquieu, Rousseau. More popular than these works, indeed the best-sellers of the time, were the salacious, blasphemous, often pornographic and treasonous books sold 'under the cloak' which formed a libertine literature that undercut all the orthodox values of the Ancien Regime. Drawing on twenty-five years of research, Darnton's history of these books, and of the booksellers who sold them, presents an idiosyncratic and iconoclastic guide to the Ancien Regime and its citizens, and a highly original study of pre-Revolutionary morals and manners.
"Dry? Not a bit. This book is wonderfully stimulating, buzzing with ideas, gossip, stories, contradictions, and stoic resistance to the temptations of dogma and theory. The great pleasure of reading Darnton is that the journey is instructive and entertaining even when you never arrive."
MICHAEL RATCLIFFE, 'Observer'
"Robert Darnton has drilled a peep-hole into the extraordinary world of French illegal literature before the Revolution – a world where abstract philosophy and political theory rubbed shoulders with anti-clerical satire, utopian fantasy, political slander and pornography... This book was worth waiting for: it's imaginative, thorough and bold, and written with real flair. The only surprise, in fact, is that it is quite such fun."
BEN ROGERS, 'Independent on Sunday'
"The literate culture of the period is the focus of Darnton's life's work. He illuminates it with assiduous scholarship, incisive thought, judicious argument, sensitive reading and stylish writing ... it makes his books delightful."
FELIPE FERNANDEZ-ARMESTO, 'Independent'
"Because he is at once scholarly and compellingly readable, the urge to compare Darnton's work with that of Simon Schama on the same period of intellectual and social ferment in France is irresistible."
LISA JARDINE, 'THES'
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Book Description Condition: Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A copy that has been read but remains in clean condition. All of the pages are intact and the cover is intact and the spine may show signs of wear. The book may have minor markings which are not specifically mentioned. Seller Inventory # wbs8509410152
Book Description Condition: Good. This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside.This book has hardback covers. In good all round condition. Dust jacket in fair condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item,800grams, ISBN:9780002556361. Seller Inventory # 9221656
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. 1st Edition. xxiii / 440 pp brown cloth with gilt title to spine. EX Library usual marks, pages tanned otherwise sound, a little wear to dust wrapper. Seller Inventory # 040426
Book Description Softcover. Condition: Very Good. No markings, annotations, or inscriptions. Internally fine, with tanning to the page block. Cover is near fine, clean and tight with minor edge wear only. There is no creasing at all to the spine. xxiii, 440pp. Seller Inventory # 489
Book Description Hardback. 1st Edition. Large octavo size [16x24cm approx]. Very Good condition in Very Good Dustjacket. DJ protected in our purpose-made plastic sleeve. Pages a little "yellowed". Black & white illustrations. Robust, professional packaging and tracking provided for all parcels. 440 pages. Seller Inventory # 322305
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. 1st Edition. Tight Firm Clean Copy - First Edition First Printing With All Numbers 1 Through To 10 - No Signatures, Inscriptions Or Notations Discovered. Small Number Of Illustrations. Illustrated Cloth Soft Cover With Titles To Spine And Front - Uncreased Spine - Faint Wear With Slight Rubbing To Bottom Front And Rear Corners. Seller Inventory # 007362
Book Description Condition: Fine. Englisch. Seller Inventory # 5490028
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First Edition. Hardcover. 440 pages. *** PUBLISHING DETAILS: Collins, UK, 1996. First Edition. *** CONDITION: The book itself is in very good condition and comes in very good dust jacket. Lightly tanned pages. Dust jacket has a small nick at the top end of the front flap fold and minor bumping to edges, otherwise in very good condition. Previous owner's name in ink. Remainder mark on bottom edge of pages. *** ABOUT THIS BOOK: This work reveals the illegal book trade in France during the 18th century and explores the cultural and political significance of "bad" books. The author introduces three of the most influential illegal bestsellers, "Therese Philosophe", "L'An 2440" and "Anecdotes sur Mme La Comtesse du Barry". *** Quantity Available: 1. Category: History; Books on Books. ISBN: 0002556367. ISBN/EAN: 9780002556361. Inventory No: 15040259. The photo of this book is of the actual book for sale. Seller Inventory # 15040259