I could rant on this book for a long time, but the short version of my opinion on it has five points:
1. "Camille-ist", which is the same thing as Dantoniste really, but it must make Saint-Just the evil corrupting influence in Robespierre's life who makes him "turn against the poor innocent Camille" *sighs*
2. Extremely well-written
3. Was it really necessary to make the Duplays, Le Bas, and Saint-Just so evil? There is absolutely NO historical evidence for this whatsoever. >__<
4. Too much credulity as far as blantantly counterrevolutionary sources that are not at all based on fact go...but then again, you tend to get that from just about any English-speaking person (particularly British) who writes about the Revolution
5. This was my favorite book for a long time and I believed a lot of what it it said....until I actually read credible historical sources (particularly the French ones), at which point I realized that a lot of what it presents in what looks like a pretty credible fashion is extremely exaggerated at best or just made up...........and sadly we're not talking minor things here, but important things like the way major events really unfolded and the overarching opinions and character of several of the most important characters
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Date: 2006-10-02 05:49 am (UTC)1. "Camille-ist", which is the same thing as Dantoniste really, but it must make Saint-Just the evil corrupting influence in Robespierre's life who makes him "turn against the poor innocent Camille" *sighs*
2. Extremely well-written
3. Was it really necessary to make the Duplays, Le Bas, and Saint-Just so evil? There is absolutely NO historical evidence for this whatsoever. >__<
4. Too much credulity as far as blantantly counterrevolutionary sources that are not at all based on fact go...but then again, you tend to get that from just about any English-speaking person (particularly British) who writes about the Revolution
5. This was my favorite book for a long time and I believed a lot of what it it said....until I actually read credible historical sources (particularly the French ones), at which point I realized that a lot of what it presents in what looks like a pretty credible fashion is extremely exaggerated at best or just made up...........and sadly we're not talking minor things here, but important things like the way major events really unfolded and the overarching opinions and character of several of the most important characters