Reviews for The king's trial: the French Revolution vs. Louis XVI

The average rating for The king's trial: the French Revolution vs. Louis XVI based on 2 reviews is 5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2019-07-03 00:00:00 Shriley Brimingham A very sad story that has repeated itself every time that there is a Revolution. The excesses and teh extreme ideologies always sacrifice someone.

Review # 2 was written on 2012-09-30 00:00:00 Josh Brewster I was directed towards this book after reading Simon Schama's chronical of the French Revolution entitled Citizens. Jordon admits in his preface that he somewhat inadvertently stumbled onto the subject of the King's Trial but was provided with such a dearth of resources to complete this work while living in Paris that it was hard to ignore. The books is well researched and provides insights not only into the last months of Louis XVI's life but also into the lives of those who were ultimately responsible for Louis' execution. Jordan tells the narrative in such a way that I often found myself turning the page hoping to read about how the Girondins were able to sway a few more undecided deputies to vote for banishment instead of death. I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it provided me with the details I've come to expect from good historical narratives which make it that much more tangible while at the same time constructing them in such way that the story unfolds as if you're reading a novel. I also relished his anecdote about how Louis’ life is remembered today – an obscure service is held every year on January 25 in a local Paris church at which a seat is reserved, so they say, for the Pretender to the throne of France. I could not help but feel sorry for the deposed monarch who was labeled a tyrant, I feel, not without merit but not wholly accurate. Certainly though Jordon leaves that decision to the successive readers and scholars inhabiting every generation from here to “the end.”