The French Revolution (novel)

The novel follows the lives of several families across the period of the French Revolution, from the early days of the Estates-General to the Reign of Terror and the rise of Napoleon. The central narrative threads include the aristocratic de la Tour family, who face the loss of their privileges and lands; the peasant family of the Sorel, who are caught up in the violence of the Revolution; and the ambitious lawyer Georges-Jacques, who rises to power in the new order. The novel weaves these personal stories into the broader historical events, including the storming of the Bastille, the Women's March on Versailles, the execution of Louis XVI, and the Thermidorian Reaction.

Rutherfurd is known for his meticulous research, and The French Revolution is no exception. He consulted a wide range of primary sources, including letters, diaries, and contemporary accounts, to ensure historical accuracy in the depiction of events and daily life. The novel includes detailed descriptions of Parisian streets, the workings of the National Assembly, and the conditions of the peasantry, drawing on the work of historians such as Simon Schama and Georges Lefebvre.¹

The novel explores themes of revolution, class struggle, and the human cost of political change. Rutherfurd presents the Revolution as a complex and often contradictory force, capable of both liberating and destroying. The characters' personal experiences highlight the moral ambiguities of the period, such as the conflict between loyalty to one's family and loyalty to one's ideals. The novel also examines the role of women in the Revolution, through characters like the revolutionary activist Lucile, who challenges traditional gender roles.²

Upon publication, The French Revolution received mixed reviews. Critics praised Rutherfurd's ability to bring history to life and his engaging narrative style, but some felt that the novel was overly long and that the fictional characters were overshadowed by the historical events. The novel was a commercial success, reaching bestseller lists in the UK and the US. It has been compared to the works of Alexandre Dumas and Charles Dickens, though with a more modern sensibility.

One lesser-known aspect is that Rutherfurd originally intended to write a novel about the French Revolution set in the Vendée, a region that was the site of a royalist uprising, but he expanded the scope to cover the entire revolution. Another is that the novel includes a cameo appearance by the historical figure Olympe de Gouges, a playwright and political activist who was executed during the Reign of Terror. Rutherfurd also incorporates the story of the real-life 'Bicêtre' prison, where many prisoners were held, and the novel's depiction of the September Massacres is based on eyewitness accounts. Additionally, the novel's title is a deliberate echo of Thomas Carlyle's 1837 work The French Revolution: A History, which Rutherfurd has cited as an influence.³

Estates-General

An assembly representing the three estates of the realm: the clergy, the nobility, and the commoners, which was convened in 1789 and led to the creation of the National Assembly.

Reign of Terror

A period during the French Revolution (1793-1794) characterized by mass executions of perceived enemies of the revolution, led by the Committee of Public Safety.

Thermidorian Reaction

The coup of 9 Thermidor (July 27, 1794) that led to the fall of Maximilien Robespierre and the end of the Reign of Terror.

Vendée

A region in western France that was the site of a royalist counter-revolutionary uprising in 1793.