Vive la revolution Book

“I'd like to say that people can change anything they want to; and that means everything in the world. Show me any country and there'll be people in it. And it's the people that make the country. People have got to stop pretending they're not on the world. People are running about following their little tracks. I am one of them. But we've all gotta stop just stop following our own little mouse trail. People can do anything; this is something that I'm beginning to learn. People are out there doing bad things to each other; it's because they've been dehumanized. It's time to take that humanity back into the centre of the ring and follow that for a time. Greed... it ain't going anywhere! They should have that on a big billboard across Times Square. Think on that. Without people you're nothing.” This is a wonderful book, but I was doomed to like it from the start. It is exactly the kind of book I've always wanted: a history book that doesn't pander, but isn't condescending, written by a comedian, aware of social causes, motivated by democratic ideals, and dedicated to Joe Strummer. There is no conceivable reality in which I wouldn't give this book five stars. I'm sure there are some realities in which I gave it six.

Pandering to my interests and ideals aside, the book is actually fantastically well-written. It works excellently as an introduction to the revolution, but it can work just as well as a refresher or a general overview. It's not very in-depth on any issue, but it's not meant to be.

It's a straight-forward account of the facts, presented with a strong liberal, socially-conscious bias. If you're not in the market for that, you're not going to like the book, full stop. But considering how many books on the revolution are impenetrable morasses of self-conscious condemnation and snide superiority, Steel's populist and human-rights focused perspective is a much-needed breath of fresh air.

The book is a lovely ode to the revolution’s ideals, if not its actions. Unlike some overly sympathetic authors, Steel never gives the revolutionaries credit when it’s not due. He always remembers that these people excitedly condemned hundreds of people without a second look.

Yet, unlike other overly condemnatory authors, Steel never lets that overshadow what the revolution was originally about. The Terror is not the sum total of the revolution, and Steel does an excellent job making that clear. He shows all the working parts of the revolution – never in much depth, but nothing gets left out – and lets the reader decide for themselves what, ultimately, constitutes the sum total, if anything does.

Of course, don’t let it be said that Steel doesn’t give his own suggestions. The book has a bias, but every book does. Steel is upfront about his bias – about the importance of the will of the people, and the beauty of political action. That is, ultimately, Steel’s thesis. The revolution is not the Terror. The revolution is the people realizing they have a future as well as a history. The revolution is the common man, the average person, getting to change the future of their country. The revolution is voting. The revolution is people.

Steel never forgets that, so if you disagree with that thesis, this book is not for you. However, if you are even slightly willing to entertain that notion, this book will be a fascinating and informative ride through the revolution.

Steel goes beyond that flat initial thesis, though: he actually makes a concerted effort to not only explain the hows and whys of the revolution, but the mindset of the average revolutionary. I have yet to see another book on the revolution bother with the average man in such detailed empathy, when few even bother with sympathy. Read the book just for that; you won’t find it elsewhere.

Steel is sympathetic without being saccharine or condescending; his interest is empathetic and grounded in bringing the reader closer to the makers of history, rather than farther. Many authors on this subject sit back and laugh at the vehemence of revolutionary action, or gasp in horror. Steel shows the absurdity, but he remembers what many don’t: that these people were average creatures of circumstance, realizing for the first time their power not only over history, but their own lives.

Steel asks what many don’t bother with: if you were newly free, wouldn’t you fight to defend it?

But he also remembers what many are afraid to consider: that fight would not be glorious; it would be an awful thing, difficult to control, and quick to get out of hand.

The inclusion of the Haitian rebellion is poorly integrated into the rest of the book, so that it seems as though these incidents took place in a vacuum. Not enough focus is given to how the French colonies were an integral part of French culture before the revolution, and continued to be afterward. The French legislative fight to end slavery, again before the revolution, is left out entirely, even though it’s integral to how the revolution evolved, and charting the course of revolutionary ideals.

The French freedom principle is never even mentioned, despite explaining French republicanism so pervasive at the time.

Likewise, the chapter on atheism is a gnarled mess of personal bias and inappropriate editorializing, and I say this as an atheist. Atheism is an important part of the revolution, with Robespierre’s struggle against it despite the dechristianization of France. But the section on atheism is just Steel’s personal opinions as an atheist, with little historical perspective. It’s completely inappropriate, and, again, I say this as someone who agrees with him. His feelings, unnecessary and un-asked-for, detract from the overall power of the work.

Ultimately, though, I believe the strengths of the book are greater than its weaknesses. It’s a unique perspective on the revolution, and in my opinion, a necessary one. It’s easy to read and understand, but it doesn’t water anything down. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in French history, revolutionary history, political history, the history of poverty, the people, democracy, justice, freedom, all of it. Because, more than a guillotine, that’s what the revolution is. It’s one of the first shuddering gasps of our current political process, loathe as many are to admit it.

And it’s important.

And also Desmoulin’s passive aggressive personal correspondence was hilarious.