The Perilous Crown: France Between Revolutions 1814-1848

by Munro Price

Everyone knows what happened in France between the Revolution of 1789 and the fall of Napoleon in 1815, but what happened next? Munro Price's vivid and compelling new book fills in the gap. Beginning with the return from exile of Louis-Philippe d'Orleans in 1814, together with his sister, Madame Adelaide, Price examines the remarkable period that saw not one but two revolutions; the first, in 1830, put Louis-Philippe on the throne, the second in 1848 saw him exiled once more, destined to spend the last years of his life in quiet seclusion in Surrey. Drawing on previously unpublished letters and journals, Price focuses on the amazing political machinations of Madame Adelaide. Mentioned only rarely in other histories of the time, Price restores her to rightful prominence and reveals how her intelligence and behind the scenes wrangling secured her brother the throne, thereby creating France's only long-lasting experiment with a constitutional monarchy. Price brings this extraordinary period, with all its instability and political intrigue, vividly to life, and at the same time illuminates our understanding of a difficult and tumultuous time. The result is an ambitious, exciting, and masterful work of history that is sure to delight and inform for many years to come.

Genres: History, France, European History, Nonfiction, 19th Century

462 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2007

About the author

Munro Price is a British historian noted for his award winning work on French history. Price was educated at Cambridge University. For most of his career he has been based at the University of Bradford, where he is currently professor of Modern European History. He has also taught at the University of Swansea and the University of Lyon

Reviews

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book vastly enjoyable because, although in every way a respectable history not a biography, it does provide a wonderful insight into the only member of the Orleans dynasty to rule as king and some of his other family members - especially his sister. The Orleans dynasty - really an interregnum between the Bourbon's and Bonaparte's - and hardly a 'dynasty more a cadet branch of the Bourbons - have not attracted any great recent biographers or historians (I know that is very sweeping and if I have missed any really fine works I will be happy to be corrected - because I am an interested reader of French history not an expert) and, honestly, one only has to look at the official portraits of the Orleans family and they look so boring and, a bit creepy - but not in an interesting way. Empress Eugenie by Winterhalter may reflect the nouveaux in the Bonapart regime and the coronation portrait of Charles X coronation clearly reveals the reactionary influences which made him unfit to be king but they are images of people that, one could imagine being swept up into a romantic dream with and mounting a barricade to die for (I stress this is a fantasy I know I wouldn't want to do anything of the kind) but the poor Orleans king, his sister and children are just boring and uninspiring.

But Mr. Price's book is not uninspiring - it is fascinating and well worth reading - I recommend it highly - I doubt the Orleans will get a better writer to cover their lives and times any time soon.

[Mick · Rating 3 out of 5]

In spite of the book's subtitle, promising to cover the period of 1814-1848, very little space is given to the reign of Charles X. Instead, this is essentially a political biography of Louis-Philippe(Orléans) and of his sister Adelaide.

In that regard it's extremely successful, being a detailed and thoughtful examination of Louis-Philippe's reign with a strong focus on his interactions with cabinet and his sister. Of particular interest to me was his Anglophile foreign policy, and the extraordinary balancing act he managed between the competing interests of the great powers of Europe, which helped to preserve an uneasy peace on the continent.

Price conveys all of this with an extraordinary eye to detail and understanding of his subject. The result is a book which, although dense at times, is highly informative. I was certainly not familiar with these events, but feel like I have a much stronger understanding having finished this book.

[Anna Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE IT! Highly recommend. Great author and great book.

[Adam Glantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains a personal story that intersects with a political story. The personal story is Louis-Philippe's relationship with his devoted and ambitious sister, Adelaide, whose bond with her brother was shaped by their shared tragedies during the French Revolution. Despite chafing under the Bourbon kings during the Restoration, Louis-Philippe balked at the chance to rule in 1830 until his sister essentially accepted the crown on his behalf during the revolution. Adelaide remained his close confidant and agent during most of his reign, particularly with regard to diplomacy. It's a curious fact that she died just before the Orleanist dynasty fell. As underscored by periodically citing the existence of the influential mistresses and wives of contemporary public figures, the author's message appears to be the old adage that behind every successful man is a woman.

The political story is that the undoing of the Restoration and July monarchies alike was the kings' attempt to make ministries accountable to themselves even if they could not attain the adherence of the legislature. This was most egregious in the Restoration period, when Charles X essentially asserted his authority to override the Charter. But even the Orleanist ministries were content to keep the franchise restricted, even as almost every election result advertised a rejection of successive royally-approved governments. In this, Louis-Philippe ignored the gradual reformism of his favorite foreign country, Britain, and perhaps Adelaide, who made her peace with the legacy of the Revolution, would have counseled reform in 1848 if she'd lived a bit longer. Thus, the author is telling a tragic story of a well-meaning king whose indecisiveness and growing conservatism prevented him from adapting to the changing times.

[David Montgomery · Rating 4 out of 5]

A readable history of two important figures, one almost forgotten today and the other completely unknown outside specialists. The protagonists are Louis-Philippe d'Orléans, a prince who supported the French Revolution, was exiled by it, and then eventually rose to become King of the French for 18 years, both rising and falling due to separate, smaller revolutions — but also Louis-Philippe's sister Adélaïde, a brilliant, strong-willed woman who devoted her life to championing her brother, as his confidant and surrogate.

The Perilous Crown is not so much a biography as it is a history of an era told through the lens of two prominent participants, though its use of this focus makes it more readable than a pure history. Author Munro Price is also a fine writer who sprinkles his prose with witty asides and wry observations; he is helped by the natural wit of many of the era's prominent figures, not merely Louis-Philippe and Adélaïde (their fondness for scatological humor aside...), but also leading chroniclers of and participants in the era such as Victor Hugo, Adolphe Thiers and François Guizot. Price is sympathetic to his protagonists but also unsparing about their foibles, especially Louis-Philippe's tendency to vacillate under pressure and the growing political rigidity that characterized him as he grew older. though casual readers might find their eyes glazing over in some of the later chapters, when Price apologetically dives into the dizzying political turmoil of Louis-Philippe's so-called "July Monarchy," no background in French history is necessary to appreciate this accessible book.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was well-researched, but with a rather narrow focus. I did think when I bought it that it would focus on the overall time period mentioned in the subtitle, but it instead focussed on the Last King of the French, Louis-Philippe and his sister Adelaide. I have read quite a lot about the French Revolution which usually puts the Orleans family in a bad light, so it was a bit of a struggle to learn more about these historical figures when my preliminary impressions have been negative. However, Price does a good job at making them well-rounded and a little more likeable. Therefore, I still found the book good rather than great, although it was easy to read, so 3.5 stars.

[Ryan Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.3/10
Excellent overview of France during its age of Revolutions, the life of Louis-Philippe I and his associations with both the monarchy and the ideals of the Revolutions, and finally, the disconnect between French society of 1815-1848 and the ideals of 1789.
- excellent for tracking political developments and important figures like Guizot, Thiers, and Soult
- role of Bonapartism

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was the first book I read that dealt with this time period of France so I don't have much reference point. I enjoy personal biographies more than government policy or economic history. However Price made these aspects of the period quite readable. He points out what he thinks were the causes of each of the government upheavals during the Restoration, the revolution of 1830, and the revolution of 1848. Keeping track of the politicians and the different governments set up during this time is a bit difficult, but I think this is more due to the fact that the history is confusing and not Price's writing. Unfortunately, his obvious enthusiasm for the history of the July Monarchy I think takes away from his chapters on the Bourbon restoration. He tends to gloss over that part of the period. He definitely should have dedicated a little more manuscript there or renamed his book "Louis-Phillipe and the July Monarchy" since he discusses Louis-Phillipe's background prior to 1814 a little bit more than Bourbons. I think he attributes government policies a bit too much to Louis-Phillipe's sister, Adelaide, but I'd have to read other books on the July Monarchy to determine if he makes a good argument.

Overall: A good start to the history of the July Monarchy.
My Rating: 3.5 stars

[Mshelton50 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although nominally a history of France during the Restoration (1814-1830) and the July Monarchy (1830-1848), Munro Price's excellent book is essentially a biography of Louis-Philippe, duc d'Orléans, later King of the French. I found it very informative, and written in a bright and engaging style. Interestingly, Price is one of the first historians to make extensive use of the correspondence of Louis-Philippe's sister and close confidante and adviser, Madame Adélaïde. This is surprising because it was largely Adélaïde who put Louis-Philippe on the throne in the wake of the 1830 revolution. She also wrote regularly to many influential figures, including Prince de Talleyrand and General Sébastiani, the French ambassadors to Britain for the first nine years of the reign. Price wonders whether, has she been alive, Adélaïde could have saved the monarchy in February 1848. I highly recommend this book.

[Bri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather good - very much the royal Orléanist perspective of the July monwrchy, and partial to Louis Phillippe and Adelaide, as might be expected; but as I been reading from a revolutionary perspective lately, an interesting royalist counterbalance. Good at showing the role of 'Egerias' - emailed advisors - subtly working their influence in royal and government arenas, as they couldn't in more masculine-centred revolutionary groups in this period. Well written and readable. Popular, not historiographical focus,

[Johan]

Having read this sympathetic view of the Orléans monarch, I still can't muster many positive feelings about the man.