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The Guillotine and the Cross
The slogans of the French Revolution: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity! are now accepted unquestioningly, but we've forgotten their blood birth. Carroll helps us remember the Reign of Terror that claimed 40,000 lives in a few months. Covers Danton, the architect of the Terror, whose re-conversion to the Faith led him to a death-battle with the monster he created, and the heroic Catholic resistance of the Vendee
203 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
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About the author
Warren H. Carroll
29 books97 followersDr. Warren H. Carroll was a leading conservative Catholic historian and author, and the founder of Christendom College.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 29, 2017
In 200 pages, Dr. Carroll manages to give an excellent overview from August 1792-August 1794, which was the time of The Terror, the very worst of the catastrophe for civilization that was the French Revolution. Markedly different from the lies most of us were told in school, the Revolution had very little to do with the common man and a lot to do with intellectuals who were unused to power or to the realities of government as opposed to the "battle" of conversations in the salon. Carroll tells the truths about the massacre of men, women, and children in Nantes, simply for the crime of being faithful Catholics, as well as the horrifying slaughter that went on in Paris nearly every day during this time period.
The monarchy was not without its own fault for letting things decay to such a point. The disastrous wars and centralization of Louis XIV was followed by the careless decadence of Louis XV, and the terrible weakness and indecision of Louis XVI.
"The very fact that the Estates-General had not met for 175 years showed how far the government had withdrawn from the people." (p. 26)
"The really important work of the Revolution was the work of dismantling - actions such as wiping out by a stroke of the pen all the historic provinces of France, deep-rooted in the past and rich in tradition, which gave each Frenchman the name for the region of his home, and replacing them with twice their number of "departments" whose boundaries were drawn totally without regard to where the provinces had been." (p. 29)
"It is not often remembered by the zealous admirers and defenders of the French Revolution and its alleged commitment to democratic liberties that the third of the guillotine's thousands of political victims during that revolution was a newspaper reporter." (p. 33)
"...very few of the victims of the September massacres were aristocrats - only about thirty out of more than 1400." (p. 43)
"It was a very serious matter to kill a king in order to destroy a monarchy. In all the history of Europe since the fall of the Roman empire, only one man had done that: Oliver Cromwell, whose memory was despised by royalists and revolutionaries alike as a fanatical dictator." (p. 63)
"The 'tree of liberty,' one of which had been designated in most towns in France as a symbol of the Revolution, was cut down and used as fuel for a bonfire in which all decrees of the Convention which could be found in Chemille, and everything tricolor, were burned." (p. 90)
"...these sacrilegious men who despoil our churches, imprison our priests, and wish to carry off all our young men to fight in their wars." (p. 91)
"The French Revolution was like a series of earthquakes, each one altering the political landscape almost beyond recognition, and toppling any person or group seeking to remain in the same place, into the abyss.
In the beginning, which might have been a century ago but actually was just four years, when in May 1789 the Estates-General had met, the conservatives stood with the King, the center wanted a national legislature that would be to a significant degree independent of the King, and the radicals wanted a constitution that would sharply limit the powers of the King. After the Tennis Court oath in June 1789, the conservatives wanted the constitution, the center wanted a constitution with a major share in the government, and the radicals wanted full control of the government with the King reduced to a figurehead. After the storming of the Bastille in July 1789, the conservatives wanted a constitution with a major share in the government, the center wanted full control of hte government with the King reduced to a figurehead, and the radicals wanted the King imprisoned. After the storming of Versailles and the imprisonment of the King in October 1789, the conservatives wanted full control of the government with the King a figurehead but eventually freed, the center wanted the helpless King as a prisoner, and the radicals began to look to a republic. After the King's flight to Varennes and recapture in June 1791, the conservatives wanted to keep the King but as a prisoner, the center wanted him removed but not just yet, and the radicals wanted him removed immediately. After August 10, 1792 the conservatives wanted to remove the King but to send him into exile rather than kill him; the center was satisfied to see him dead but wanted cabinet-style government with an orderly, dignified legislature and some rights of local self-government; and the radicals wanted to execute him without even a trial and go on to impose their total ideology on every corner of France and then all the rest of the world. After the execution of the King the conservatives still sought orderly government and local rights, the center cried for more centralization of governmental power, and the radicals decided the time had come to visit the fate of Louis XVI upon the now-conservatives who still sought orderly government and local rights." (p. 103)
(regarding only one episode of many in the Vendee) "About two hundred peasants - men, women, and children - were assembled in a field. Their noses, ears, and fingers were cut off and their tongues torn out; their cries could be heard for more than a mile. Afterwards that field was known as 'the meadow of the howling.'" (p. 153)
The monarchy was not without its own fault for letting things decay to such a point. The disastrous wars and centralization of Louis XIV was followed by the careless decadence of Louis XV, and the terrible weakness and indecision of Louis XVI.
"The very fact that the Estates-General had not met for 175 years showed how far the government had withdrawn from the people." (p. 26)
"The really important work of the Revolution was the work of dismantling - actions such as wiping out by a stroke of the pen all the historic provinces of France, deep-rooted in the past and rich in tradition, which gave each Frenchman the name for the region of his home, and replacing them with twice their number of "departments" whose boundaries were drawn totally without regard to where the provinces had been." (p. 29)
"It is not often remembered by the zealous admirers and defenders of the French Revolution and its alleged commitment to democratic liberties that the third of the guillotine's thousands of political victims during that revolution was a newspaper reporter." (p. 33)
"...very few of the victims of the September massacres were aristocrats - only about thirty out of more than 1400." (p. 43)
"It was a very serious matter to kill a king in order to destroy a monarchy. In all the history of Europe since the fall of the Roman empire, only one man had done that: Oliver Cromwell, whose memory was despised by royalists and revolutionaries alike as a fanatical dictator." (p. 63)
"The 'tree of liberty,' one of which had been designated in most towns in France as a symbol of the Revolution, was cut down and used as fuel for a bonfire in which all decrees of the Convention which could be found in Chemille, and everything tricolor, were burned." (p. 90)
"...these sacrilegious men who despoil our churches, imprison our priests, and wish to carry off all our young men to fight in their wars." (p. 91)
"The French Revolution was like a series of earthquakes, each one altering the political landscape almost beyond recognition, and toppling any person or group seeking to remain in the same place, into the abyss.
In the beginning, which might have been a century ago but actually was just four years, when in May 1789 the Estates-General had met, the conservatives stood with the King, the center wanted a national legislature that would be to a significant degree independent of the King, and the radicals wanted a constitution that would sharply limit the powers of the King. After the Tennis Court oath in June 1789, the conservatives wanted the constitution, the center wanted a constitution with a major share in the government, and the radicals wanted full control of the government with the King reduced to a figurehead. After the storming of the Bastille in July 1789, the conservatives wanted a constitution with a major share in the government, the center wanted full control of hte government with the King reduced to a figurehead, and the radicals wanted the King imprisoned. After the storming of Versailles and the imprisonment of the King in October 1789, the conservatives wanted full control of the government with the King a figurehead but eventually freed, the center wanted the helpless King as a prisoner, and the radicals began to look to a republic. After the King's flight to Varennes and recapture in June 1791, the conservatives wanted to keep the King but as a prisoner, the center wanted him removed but not just yet, and the radicals wanted him removed immediately. After August 10, 1792 the conservatives wanted to remove the King but to send him into exile rather than kill him; the center was satisfied to see him dead but wanted cabinet-style government with an orderly, dignified legislature and some rights of local self-government; and the radicals wanted to execute him without even a trial and go on to impose their total ideology on every corner of France and then all the rest of the world. After the execution of the King the conservatives still sought orderly government and local rights, the center cried for more centralization of governmental power, and the radicals decided the time had come to visit the fate of Louis XVI upon the now-conservatives who still sought orderly government and local rights." (p. 103)
(regarding only one episode of many in the Vendee) "About two hundred peasants - men, women, and children - were assembled in a field. Their noses, ears, and fingers were cut off and their tongues torn out; their cries could be heard for more than a mile. Afterwards that field was known as 'the meadow of the howling.'" (p. 153)
July 2, 2024
“There are no happy stories during the French Revolution.” This is what our tour guide said at Versailles. Before that tour, I knew next to nothing about the Revolution or the events that led up to it. After the tour I really wanted to learn more, and Warren H. Carroll had been recommended to me a while ago. Recently I have come to appreciate the value of differing sources and opinions when it comes to reading about history, especially if it’s not a primary source. Carroll is a Catholic historian, so this book tells everything from a Catholic perspective. I really enjoyed that and it made this story very engaging and more personal to me, but I also tried to think for myself a little bit and do my own research on some of the things he said. This is something that I’ve had to mature into as a reader, because I find a lot of Carroll’s Catholic-based speculations exciting and romantic. I don’t completely write them off either though, I just tried to have a patient and open mentality.
That being said, Caroll’s telling of the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror was very engaging. Although Carroll clearly thinks the Revolution is evil, he treats everyone involved fairly from what I can tell. Terrible, terrible atrocities were committed during the Reign of Terror and Carroll makes you feel them. It is mind-boggling how many completely brutal, unjust, and sometimes satanic things were done in the name of liberty. Carroll does not pull punches when he feels that something has been misrepresented by other historians, and sometimes it reads almost like apologetics. There is a lot of misinformation and simply a lack of public knowledge about this supremely important time in history (another reason to look to multiple sources). One obvious example is “let them eat cake.”
Carroll also tells great stories of people fighting for their faith, their country, and their king, although some were misguided (Charlotte Corday). So although there may not be any happy stories during the French Revolution, there were certainly inspiring instances of heroes who displayed much bravery, strength, and morality in the face of evil. All in all, I really liked this book, and although it shouldn’t be your only source on the French Revolution, it is certainly a valuable one.
That being said, Caroll’s telling of the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror was very engaging. Although Carroll clearly thinks the Revolution is evil, he treats everyone involved fairly from what I can tell. Terrible, terrible atrocities were committed during the Reign of Terror and Carroll makes you feel them. It is mind-boggling how many completely brutal, unjust, and sometimes satanic things were done in the name of liberty. Carroll does not pull punches when he feels that something has been misrepresented by other historians, and sometimes it reads almost like apologetics. There is a lot of misinformation and simply a lack of public knowledge about this supremely important time in history (another reason to look to multiple sources). One obvious example is “let them eat cake.”
Carroll also tells great stories of people fighting for their faith, their country, and their king, although some were misguided (Charlotte Corday). So although there may not be any happy stories during the French Revolution, there were certainly inspiring instances of heroes who displayed much bravery, strength, and morality in the face of evil. All in all, I really liked this book, and although it shouldn’t be your only source on the French Revolution, it is certainly a valuable one.
March 19, 2022
Riveting. The historical equivalent of a high speed car chase regarding the Reign of Terror and the tyranny of evil. I could not put this book down. There is no more compelling battle than that between the forces of good and evil. This book leaves one contemplating how the French Revolution influenced the Russian Revolution, the subsequent development of certain ideologies and political systems, and western civilization. How it was a turning point from life known as ordered by and toward God, to life ordered by and for man. It paints a portrait of the twisted evil that emerged in enough human beings to gain a collective momentum, as well as the agony of those who fell mercilessly at the hands of the killing machine they created. This was a turning point for France, and the beginning of the battle for her soul which continues to this day.
July 29, 2010
Powerful book, but I have mixed feelings about it. Warren Carroll has a great deal of passion for the subject, and at times it is less than edifying. Parts left me under the impression that Warren Carroll would cheer every excess he denounces in the revolutionaries if they were only committed by the royalists. I don't doubt everything he says is true, but at the same time, I feel like I have received the truth as told by a teenage activist.
September 16, 2017
Engaging, informative, and enlightening about a period of history I think I wish I knew more about. Focuses on the Terror, alludes to much more.
September 27, 2024
This is a very engaging account of some of the most important events and characters during the French Revolution. It also deals with some of the heroes who fought back and some of the martyrs. I highly recommend it.
September 21, 2023
I could not put this book down. The author’s Catholic spin on his story gave it great power and hope.
October 18, 2023
Tragic and fascinating history of the French Revolution
October 11, 2011
An extraordinary book that takes us the French Revolution where the processes that took place build up to persecute the Church which suffered deeply from the disorder and chaos that reigned during those years. It's a book that must be read by those that like documented history, very well written and very easy to understand.
October 15, 2008
Captivating accuracy yet decently gory. Carroll remembers to detail that romance which is the key to France's glories as well as her revolting revolutions.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews