Daily Life During the French Revolution

The French Revolution sought to change daily life itself. This book looks at the thirteen years between 1789-1802 that experienced the Terror, banning of the aristocracy, and the rearrangement of the calendar. No part of French life was left untouched during this incredible period of turmoil and warfare, from women's role in the family to men's role in the state. Art and theater were invigorated and harnessed for political purposes. Subtleties in one's dress could mean the difference between life and death. The first modern mass army was created. Chapters include the physical make-up of France; the social and political background of the revolution; the First Republic; religion, church and state; urban life; rural life; family life; the fringe society; clothes and fashion; food and drink; the role of women; military life; education; health and medicine; and writers, artists, musicians and entertainment. Anderson breathes life into the day-to-day lives of those living during the French Revolution.

JAMES M. ANDERSON is Professor Emeritus at the University of Calgary, Canada. He has spent many years in Spain, Portugal and France both as a Fulbright Scholar and as the recipient of Canada Council and SSHRC grants, contributing numerous articles and books to the field of European studies. He is author of 13 books, including The History of Portugal (Greenwood, 2000), Daily Life during the Spanish Inquisition (Greenwood, 2002) andThe Spanish Civil War (Greenwood, 2003).