Citizens: A Chronicle of The French Revolution

Citizens: A Chronicle of The French Revolution

Citizens: A Chronicle of The French Revolution

By Simon Schama (2004)
Read our review Buy this book
Read our review Buy this book

The most authoritative social, cultural and narrative history of the French Revolution, and one of the great landmarks of modern history publishing. "Monumental...provocative and stylish, Simon Schama's account of the first few years of the great Revolution in France, and of the decades that led up to it, is thoughtful, informed and profoundly revisionist" - Eugen Weber, "The New York Times" Book Review.

Fact of the Day

During the gin craze in the eighteenth century, the ratio of gin shops to houses in London was as high as one to five.

Quote of the Day

"I love argument, I love debate. I don't expect anyone just to sit there and agree with me, that's not their job. "
~ Margaret Thatcher

On This Day

1579 Thomas Gresham, merchant, financier, and founder of the Royal Exchange, died suddenly, apparently of apoplexy. He bequeathed his estate, after the death of his wife, to the Corporation of London and the Mercers' Company to set up a college to provide free lectures to the public; Gresham College thus became London's first institution of higher education.
1916 The hospital ship Britannic, sister-ship of Titanic, hit a mine and sank, killing 30.
1918 Ten days after the Armistice, the German navy surrendered to the British in the Firth of Forth. 
1920 The assassinations of British intelligence officers ordered by Michael Collins in the Irish War of Independence led to thirty-one dead (from both sides) in what became known as 'Bloody Sunday'.
1974 21 people were killed and 182 injured when bombs exploded in two Birmingham pubs. The IRA was probably responsible, but the real culprits have never been found. The Birmingham Six, originally convicted of the bombings, were released because of dodgy police practices.
1981 The proceedings of the House of Commons were televised live for the first time.