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Dancing To The Precipice: Lucie Dillon, Marquise De La Tour Du Pin And The French Revolution (2009)

by Caroline Moorehead(Favorite Author)

3.98 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

070117904X (ISBN13: 9780701179045)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Chatto & Windus

review 1: A splendidly readable overview of the revolution in France from before the terror to after the end of the Bourbon era. It's not really a biography of Lucie Dillon, but a biography of the period through the perspective on one woman. I actually found that I had little personal impression of Lucie - for that I think her journals would be a better source - after reading it, it's not an emotional record, but a fascinating one.
review 2: A wonderful alternative view of revolutionary France. Rather than the usual dry historical text which focuses primarily on the central instigators and participants (almost all men), this well written biography focuses on a woman who witnessed these events, was affected by them, and who was able to record them for posterity. We are ... moreable to witness events first hand through the diaries of Lucie de la Tour du Pin, all the while marvelling at her ability to survive what must have been traumatic events.Often the only portraits of women at this time are of aggressive fish-wives, blood thirsty tricoteuse or simpering ladies of the court. It is refreshing to see a woman of this time, so clearly well educated and naturally intelligent, make the use of these talents to chronicle life before, during and after the revolution. less

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