The French Revolution: A History

Carlyle wrote the work after the manuscript of the first volume was accidentally burned by a servant of John Stuart Mill, to whom it had been lent. Carlyle rewrote it from memory, a feat that contributed to its intense, vivid style.¹ The book covers the period from the death of Louis XV in 1774 to the suppression of the insurrection of 13 Vendémiaire (October 1795), ending with Napoleon's rise.

Carlyle's style is idiosyncratic, marked by exclamations, archaisms, and a prophetic tone. He famously described the revolution as a 'phenomenon' that revealed the 'eternal justice' of history. The work influenced later historians like Jules Michelet and inspired Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities.²

Upon publication, the book was praised for its originality and power, though some critics found its style excessive. It established Carlyle's reputation and has never been out of print. Modern historians often note its inaccuracies but acknowledge its role in shaping popular perceptions of the revolution.³

Carlyle's work was one of the first to give significant attention to the role of the Parisian crowd, particularly women, in the October Days. He also coined the phrase 'the sea-green Incorruptible' for Robespierre, which became a lasting epithet. The book was written in a period of personal crisis; Carlyle had just moved to London and was struggling financially. Additionally, the work's original title page did not bear Carlyle's name, as it was published anonymously.

Romantic historiography

A 19th-century approach to history that emphasized narrative, emotion, and the dramatic, often focusing on the spirit of an age.

Vendémiaire

The first month of the French Republican calendar, corresponding to late September to late October; the 13 Vendémiaire was a royalist uprising suppressed by Napoleon.

Sea-green Incorruptible

A phrase coined by Carlyle to describe Maximilien Robespierre, referring to his pale complexion and his reputation for incorruptibility.