Subjects
The Scottish People and the French Revolution
Bob Harris
The Enlightenment World
978 1 85196 884 8: 234x156mm: £60.00/$99.00
978 1 85196 569 4
This is the first modern scholarly study of the political culture of Scotland during the 1790s.
Harris compares the emergence of ‘the people’ as a political force in Scotland with popular political movements in England and Ireland. He is the first to analyze Scottish responses to the French Revolution across the political spectrum; explaining Loyalist as well as Radical opinions and organisations. He also takes regional difference into account, moving scholarly attention beyond Edinburgh and Glasgow.
This book adds significantly to the growing wealth of studies into the popular politics of the 1790s. It also sets the context for current scholarly debates about Robert Burns’s engagement with the French Revolution.
Sample pages
- The Scottish People and the French Revolution: Introduction
- The Scottish People and the French Revolution: Index
Readership
Eighteenth-Century Studies, Political History, Scottish Studies
Contents
Introduction
1 A Servile Politics?
2 Newspapers, Revolution and War
3 Radicalism; the Open Phase (1792–4)
4 Combating Treason: Loyalists and the State (1792–4)
5 Radicalism in the Later 1790s
6 Anti-militia Riots and Invasion Scares (1797–8)
7 Bread and Politics (1799–1801)
Conclusion
Reviews
'Citing an amazing array of primary sources, he [Harris] can rightly claim that this book "take[s] us a deal further into local and regional conditions than other historians have yet managed". This book will contribute to scholarly debate because of its remarkable research and the integrity and evenhandedness with which it is deployed.'
– Eric G Wehrli, Jr, Eighteenth-Century Scotland
'Harris has written a history that fills several gaps. The sources, both primary and secondary, are superb. Summing Up: Highly recommended.'
– CHOICE
'The book goes a long way towards filling some of the gaps in our understanding of the political culture of the 1790s. It is clear, concise and thoroughly-researched.'
– Ronald Morris, International Review of Scottish Studies
'Harris provides a shrewd and nuanced analysis of Scotland's political culture'
– Gordon Pentland, English Historical Review
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