The Great Nation: France from Louis XV to Napoleon: The New Penguin History of France

by Colin Jones

Overview

There can be few more mesmerising historical narratives than the story of how the dazzlingly confident and secure monarchy Louis XIV, 'the Sun King', left to his successors in 1715 became the discredited, debt-ridden failure toppled by Revolution in1789. The further story of the bloody unravelling of the Revolution until its seizure by Napoleon is equally astounding.

Colin Jones' brilliant new book is the first in 40 years to describe the whole period. Jones' key point in this gripping narrative is that France was NOT doomed to Revolution and that the 'ancien regime' DID remain dynamic and innovatory, twisting and turning until finally stoven in by the intolerable costs and humiliation of its wars with Britain.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780141937205
Publisher:	Penguin UK
Publication date:	05/29/2003
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	688
Sales rank:	708,430
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Colin Jones is Professor of History at the University of Warwick and is now writing PARIS: A HISTORY for Allen Lane.