The Notables and the Nation: The Political Schooling of the French, 1787–1788

Vivian R. Gruder

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The Notables and the Nation

The Political Schooling of the French, 1787–1788

Vivian R. Gruder

Language: English

Published/Copyright: 2008

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This book is in the series

Volume 157 | Harvard Historical Studies

About this book

The ending of absolute monarchy and the start of political combat between nobles and commoners make 1787–1788 the first stage of the French Revolution. In a detailed look at this critical transition, Gruder explores how the French people became engaged in an opposition movement that culminated in demands for the public's role in government.

Reviews

This excellent work retraces the pre-revolutionary political events of 1787-1788. Particularly interesting is Gruder's convincing evidence--in the form of newspapers, pamphlets, and nouvelles à la main--showing that the debates of the notables, and after them the Paris Parlementaires, were widely discussed by an involved and informed French reading public. Combining a lively awareness of recent scholarship on the formation of public opinion and the nature of the reading public with a well-written, accessible text, The Notables and the Nation offers much to be admired.
-- Patrice Higonnet, author of Paris: Capital of the World

In a detailed examination of this critical transition, Gruder examines how the French people became engaged in a movement of opposition that culminated in demands for the public's role in government.
-- Times Higher Education Supplement

Topics

History Regional and National History Europe General European History

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Frontmatter
i

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Contents
vii

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Acknowledgments
ix

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Map of France, 1786
xii

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Introduction
1

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I. The Assembly of Notables: February–May 1787, November–December 1788
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1. Paths to Political Consciousness: The Notables in the First Assembly, February–May 1787
11

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2. Privilege, Property, and Participation: A Mutation in Elite Political Culture
34

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3. The Society of Orders at Its Demise: The Vision of the Elite at the End of the Ancien Régime
61

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II. The Media and the Public: Networks of Information, Opinion, Instruction
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4. Political News as Coded Messages: The Parisian and Provincial Press, 1787–1788
91

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5. The Foreign French-Language Press: Gazettes
112

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6. The Foreign French-Language Press: Journals of Opinion
125

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7. Manuscript Newsletters—Nouvelles à la Main
136

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8. Pamphlets and Other Writings: A Network of Political Education and Polemics
167

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9. Readers and Reading Sites: The Public and the Network of the Printed and Written Media
194

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10. The Verbal, the Visual, and the Festive
208

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III. At the Grass Roots
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11. “Popular” Pamphlets: Political Messages to the Public
253

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12. Can We Hear the Voices of Peasants?
292

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13. The Grass Roots: Local Judges and Community Assemblies Speak Out
324

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Conclusion
365

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Appendix A. Chronology
373

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Appendix B. Contemporary Accounts of Fêtes, 1787–1788
377

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Notes
383

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Index
471

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Publishing information

Pages and Images/Illustrations in book

eBook published on:

January 31, 2008

eBook ISBN:

9780674273054

Pages and Images/Illustrations in book

Main content:

518

https://doi.org/10.4159/9780674273054

eBook ISBN: 9780674273054

Audience(s) for this book

Professional and scholarly;

The Notables and the Nation

Overview

About this book

Reviews

Topics

Table of contents

Frontmatter

Contents

Acknowledgments

Map of France, 1786

Introduction

1. Paths to Political Consciousness: The Notables in the First Assembly, February–May 1787

2. Privilege, Property, and Participation: A Mutation in Elite Political Culture

3. The Society of Orders at Its Demise: The Vision of the Elite at the End of the Ancien Régime

4. Political News as Coded Messages: The Parisian and Provincial Press, 1787–1788

5. The Foreign French-Language Press: Gazettes

6. The Foreign French-Language Press: Journals of Opinion

7. Manuscript Newsletters—Nouvelles à la Main

8. Pamphlets and Other Writings: A Network of Political Education and Polemics

9. Readers and Reading Sites: The Public and the Network of the Printed and Written Media

10. The Verbal, the Visual, and the Festive

11. “Popular” Pamphlets: Political Messages to the Public

12. Can We Hear the Voices of Peasants?

13. The Grass Roots: Local Judges and Community Assemblies Speak Out

Conclusion

Appendix A. Chronology

Appendix B. Contemporary Accounts of Fêtes, 1787–1788

Notes

Index

Bibliographic data