Description: This revisionist study challenges those readings of the French Revolution that see it as inherently violent and intolerant, often in terms of the Terror alone, and explores the egalitarian policies pursued in the provinces. The mainstream Jacobin agenda held out the promise of "fair shares" and equal opportunities for all in a private ownership market economy. Moreover it sought to achieve social justice without jeopardizing human rights. Thus it tended to complement, rather than undermine, the liberal, individualist program of the Revolution.
Review Quotes: "This book is a welcome addition to the historiography of the French Revolution on a number of counts. It has been well researched, utilizing both local and national archives and libraries; it is a well-conceived and well-organized study; the author is both economical and eloquent in his prose; and the book has been well produced. It will be essential reading for those interested in the Jacobin political project, the activities in the provinces of the 'representatives on mission' and the 'other side' of the Terror." Paul R. Hanson, Journal of Interdisciplinary History