The French Revolution: A History. Volume 1: The Bastille (Version 2)


Read by Peter Dann

(4.8 stars; 7 reviews)

Subtitled "The Bastille", Volume 1 of Thomas Carlyle's three volume "The French Revolution: A History" was first published in 1837, and covers the events of the French Revolution up to the forced move of Louis XVI from Versailles to Paris. While a modern listener not already familiar with the events described here may need some time to get their bearings amidst a sea of unfamiliar names and allusions, Carlyle's idiosyncratic yet justly famous present-tense, quasi-firsthand narrative quickly builds into a gripping, highly dramatic story which contemporary scholars still regard as being essentially accurate.

It may help the reader to understand that the term 'Oeuil de Boeuf' signifies the palace of the French King, and that references to 'Jean Jacques' are to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, whose 1755 book "The Social Contract" argued that 'we are obliged to obey only legitimate powers'. - Summary by Peter Dann (11 hr 9 min)

Chapters

Book 1, Chapter 1: Louis the Well-Beloved 10:02 Read by Peter Dann
Book 1, Chapter 2: Realised Ideals 24:30 Read by Peter Dann
Book 1, Chapter 3: Viaticum 7:36 Read by Peter Dann
Book 1, Chapter 4: Louis the Unforgotten 17:15 Read by Peter Dann
Book 2, Chapter 1: Astraea Redux 15:52 Read by Peter Dann
Book 2, Chapter 2: Petition in Hieroglyphs 6:24 Read by Peter Dann
Book 2, Chapter 3: Questionable 9:54 Read by Peter Dann
Book 2, Chapter 4: Maurepas 9:44 Read by Peter Dann
Book 2, Chapter 5: Astraea Redux without Cash 9:33 Read by Peter Dann
Book 2, Chapter 6: Windbags 11:10 Read by Peter Dann
Book 2, Chapter 7: Contrat Social 7:21 Read by Peter Dann
Book 2, Chapter 8: Printed Paper 13:11 Read by Peter Dann
Book 3, Chapter 1: Dishonoured Bills 12:27 Read by Peter Dann
Book 3, Chapter 2: Controller Calonne 8:21 Read by Peter Dann
Book 3, Chapter 3: The Notables 23:26 Read by Peter Dann
Book 3, Chapter 4: Loménie’s Edicts 11:49 Read by Peter Dann
Book 3, Chapter 5: Loménie’s Thunderbolts 11:27 Read by Peter Dann
Book 3, Chapter 6: Loménie’s Plots 11:50 Read by Peter Dann
Book 3, Chapter 7: Internecine 14:03 Read by Peter Dann
Book 3, Chapter 8: Loménie’s Death-throes 25:49 Read by Peter Dann
Book 3, Chapter 9: Burial with Bonfire 8:38 Read by Peter Dann
Book 4, Chapter 1: The Notables Again 13:30 Read by Peter Dann
Book 4, Chapter 2: The Election 15:23 Read by Peter Dann
Book 4, Chapter 3: Grown Electric 9:09 Read by Peter Dann
Book 4, Chapter 4: The Procession 45:23 Read by Peter Dann
Book 5, Chapter 1: Inertia 20:59 Read by Peter Dann
Book 5, Chapter 2: Mercury de Brézé 17:41 Read by Peter Dann
Book 5, Chapter 3: Broglie the War-God 13:26 Read by Peter Dann
Book 5, Chapter 4: To Arms! 12:39 Read by Peter Dann
Book 5, Chapter 5: Give us Arms 15:45 Read by Peter Dann
Book 5, Chapter 6: Storm and Victory 21:00 Read by Peter Dann
Book 5, Chapter 7: Not a Revolt 10:30 Read by Peter Dann
Book 5, Chapter 8: Conquering your King 9:05 Read by Peter Dann
Book 5, Chapter 9: The Lanterne 14:03 Read by Peter Dann
Book 6, Chapter 1: Make the Constitution 15:17 Read by Peter Dann
Book 6, Chapter 2: The Constituent Assembly 13:09 Read by Peter Dann
Book 6, Chapter 3: The General Overturn 20:19 Read by Peter Dann
Book 6, Chapter 4: In Queue 6:47 Read by Peter Dann
Book 6, Chapter 5: The Fourth Estate 7:54 Read by Peter Dann
Book 7, Chapter 1: Patrollotism 10:18 Read by Peter Dann
Book 7, Chapter 2: O Richard, O my King 10:43 Read by Peter Dann
Book 7, Chapter 3: Black Cockades 4:51 Read by Peter Dann
Book 7, Chapter 4: The Menads 9:18 Read by Peter Dann
Book 7, Chapter 5: Usher Maillard 13:05 Read by Peter Dann
Book 7, Chapter 6: To Versailles 9:31 Read by Peter Dann
Book 7, Chapter 7: At Versailles 9:35 Read by Peter Dann
Book 7, Chapter 8: The Equal Diet 12:20 Read by Peter Dann
Book 7, Chapter 9: Lafayette 9:19 Read by Peter Dann
Book 7, Chapter 10: The Grand Entries 12:08 Read by Peter Dann
Book 7, Chapter 11: From Versailles 15:46 Read by Peter Dann

Reviews

Very well read


(5 stars)

Carlyle is like nothing else, with the French, the Biblical and Classical references.

The narrator is incredible


(4.5 stars)

He handles Carlyle’s varied prose with mastery. Give it a listen.

Wonderful


(5 stars)

This is an invaluable narration. Very well done!