The Attack on Feudalism in Eighteenth-Century France (Paperback)

First published in 2006. Feudalism is normally associated with eighteenth-century France only in its more bizarre survivals, as in The Marriage of Figaro, when his seigneur claims the rights to spend the first night with the bride. If feudalism menat no more in the eighteenth century than a few quaint customs that could tickle an audence at the Comedie Francaise, why did French writers attack it so furiously? The author suggests that contemporary writers saw remnants of the feudal regime as important less in themselves, than as symbols of an attitude of mind which the 'enlightened' among them would no longer tolerate. Instead of representing the ideas of the eighteenth century through the eyes of a few outstanding writers, Dr Mackrell has tried to reconstitute the intellectual climate of the ancien regime from the works of largely unknown historians, jurists, economists and others. In this way he illuminates the rich texture of eighteenth-century French thought, without which the ideas of Voltaire, Montesquieu and even Rousseau lose much of their meaning. This study breathes life into the fierce controversies that shook the Age of Reason long before the outbreak of Revolution.

General

Imprint:	Routledge
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	March 2013
First published:	1973
Authors:	J.Q.C. Mackrell
Dimensions:	234 x 156mm (L x W)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	232
ISBN-13:	978-0-415-85267-8
Categories:	Books > Humanities > History > History of specific subjects > Social & cultural history Books > Social sciences > Politics & government > Political structure & processes > Constitution, government & the state Books > History > History of specific subjects > Social & cultural history Promotions
LSN:	0-415-85267-6
Barcode:	9780415852678

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