The Bottom Line
A truly superb volume which should interest anyone who likes well-written books, Schama wrote this before he became the darling of the British media!
Pros
- Easy to read
- A wealth of information
- Value for money
Cons
- Doesn't cover the whole revolution
- Foreboding size for non-readers
- Not suitable for the young
Description
- Paperback, 948 pages
- ISBN: 0140172068
- Illustrated
Guide Review - Citizens by Simon Schama
'Citizens'' narrative - or 'chronicle' according to the full title - begins in the decades before the French Revolution and carries on until the end of The Terror, providing huge amounts of background, detail and information on the way. Crucially, this isn't a dry account of political events, but a masterful journey through the society and culture of France, always providing the human side of the tumultuous events. Of course, at over 900 pages in length many readers will be put off by the volume's size, but try it, because Schama's engaging style will carry you through. Some passages are unsuitable for the younger student but, given the book's size and scope, they would be better off with other volumes anyway.
