Louis XVI

by John Hardman

The reign of Louis XVI, which ended with the guillotining of Louis followed by that of his wife Marie Antoinette in 1793, is a dramatic and crucial part of French history. Yet there have been few authoritative studies of the King, a result of the paucity of personal documentary materials. John Hardman, who has spent many years tracking down the primary sources, now fills the gap with this engrossing and perceptive account of Louis's reign.

Hardman divides his story into three periods. His account of the first twelve years of Louis's reign, from 1774 to 1786, reveals the secret workings of absolute monarchy in the last stage of its development. During this period, Hardman shows, the King was capable but also austere, enigmatic, and at times callous. The second part of the book, from 1787-89, opens with Louis's great personal reform initiative presented to the Assembly of Notables as a pivot of the reign. Here Hardman discusses the disintegration of the regime, the loss of Louis's personal composure, and the corresponding rise in the influence of Marie-Antoinette. The King's often misunderstood attitude to the Estates-General in 1789, he argues, determined the whole character and course of the French Revolution.

The main theme of the last section, from 1789-93, is the King's attitude toward the Revolution as embodied in the Constitution of 1791. However, the political drama is also partially replaced by a human one: as Louis's political role declines, his character, tempered by suffering, becomes more sympathetic. In the end, Louis emerges as a ruler with clear ideas and a genuine concern for the French people, and the flight to Varennes and the King's imprisonment and execution take on new poignancy.

Genres: History, French Revolution, Nonfiction, 18th Century

280 pages, Hardcover

First published December 23, 1992

About the author

John Hardman is one of the world’s leading experts on the French Revolution and the author of several well-regarded books on the subject. He was formerly lecturer in modern history at the University of Edinburgh.

Reviews

[Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of books about Marie Antoinette, French revolution portraying last king of France like lazy, extra shy, stupid and ignorant. And it is done for many reasons - to justified blood shed and the need of revolution, possibility of romance with much "better" man, showing people around him in much better light than they would be if king would be different. This books focus in Louis XVI political actions and character with very little touch of his family life. And it was so refreshing to read about active, intelligence and goodhearted king. Yes, he made mistakes, he was shy but had really good head and heart and really care for his people. I strongly recommend to read everyone who interested in French revolution and Marie Antoinette. Author don't look like Louis XVI fanboy and showing king political decisions in objective light as humanly possible.

[John McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

More treatise than book, and showing its age a bit in form and over reliance on the reader’s fluency in French, it is nonetheless engrossing and a studied look at the governing of France and the enigmatic man wearing the crown.