Jansenism: Catholic Resistance to Authority from the Reformation to the French Revolution

Studies in European History

by William Doyle

Jansenism, and the theology of Cornelius Jansen, powerfully infused French political life from the mid-17th century to the revolution 150 years later. It influenced the Enlightenment, the development of French constitutional thinking, the destruction of the Jesuits, and the modernization of the Catholic Church. This book explains why Jansenism was so important, recreates the religious and intellectual world which fostered it, and examines the critical issues which led to the French Revolution.

Genres: History

120 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 1999

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.

William Doyle FBA is a British historian, specialising in 18th-century France, who is most notable for his one-volume Oxford History of the French Revolution (1989).

He is one of the leading revisionist historians of the French Revolution, obtaining his doctorate from the University of Oxford with his thesis The parlementaires of Bordeaux at the end of the eighteenth century, 1775–1790.

He is also professor emeritus of history at Bristol University, a fellow of the British Academy and a trustee of The Society for the Study of French History.

Reviews

[Bernard]

Concise and clear account of the history of Jansenism with useful indications of the modern scholarly assessment of Jansenism’s impact. Not as good at giving a clear picture of the contested theological and philosophical points. Students of theology will want to look elsewhere for a better treatment of those issues. A useful reference.

[George]

A succinct and well-written account about one of the heterodox movements inside the Catholic Church in France (also known as the Gallican Church) that arguably led to the French Revolution in 1789, and thus should deserve more attention than it otherwise does.

[Ed]

This is a very short and lucid summary of the history of Jansenism.

[Steve]

Nice short intro.

[Jose Serrano]

An engaging and insightful little “study” in the origins and social & religious impact of Jansenism as well as their conflict with their ‘nemesis’ - the relatively new order of the Society of Jesus (“Jesuits”).
I highly recommend this book as a good introduction that will surely give you a taste for further research and reading into the tension between proponents of “free will” vs “determinism” as well as raising the question “What is to be done” in regards to obedience to authority.
However, reader beware, this slim, “little” volume is quite dense and one quickly can become entangled in the thick weeds of Church / Sovereign relations. Luckily, the author does a very helpful job of navigating and leading the reader through this quagmire though, as long as you have a little patience & keep track of the various players & personalities.
An excellent overview to prepare a deeper dive into the intellectual milieu pre-French Revolution & the desacralization of divine kingship & authority.

[Jon]

Great overview of (arguably) the last great heresey. Draws a clear line from Augustine -> Jansenism -> Anti-Papacy -> French Revolution. Only 90 pages with a glossary...