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The Huguenots in France
HardPress Classic Books Series
212 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1893
76 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
About the author
Samuel Smiles
848 books58 followersSamuel Smiles (23 December 1812 – 16 April 1904), was a Scottish author and government reformer, who campaigned on a Chartist platform. But he concluded that more progress would come from new attitudes than from new laws. His masterpiece, Self-Help (1859), promoted thrift and claimed that poverty was caused largely by irresponsible habits, while also attacking materialism and laissez-faire government. It has been called "the bible of mid-Victorian liberalism", and it raised Smiles to celebrity status almost overnight.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 12, 2025
Published in 1903 and available online thanks to Project Gutenberg (bless their hearts), the first half of this book is an interesting and well-written history of the Huguenots who remained in France after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes--a fascinating and brutal story. The remainder of the book consists of brief biographies of three Huguenot refugees who attained distinction in England and, somewhat oddly, a Pays Vaudois travel memoir (albeit with plenty of interesting history). A very good read.
February 24, 2016
I read this history of the Huguenots, because my family genealogy carries me to France at the time of the Huguenots. Many Huguenots came to America to escape the carnage in France at the time. I have not proof of my ancestors being Huguenots, but we are Protestants today. Time and more research may tell. The Huguenots were Protestant (Protesters, if you will) in a day when that would get you killed by the Catholic King of France, Louis XIV. What a battle, what a slaughter on both sides. All in the name of God, well maybe not, but that is a good enough excuse. My eyes were opened. I knew nothing of this history, it was a dark mystery. I feel so much more informed and love and respect people who gave their lives and future for their beliefs and convictions.
Not only did the King slaughter hundreds of thousands of his best, most productive citizens (maybe a million) but drove out good honest citizens, the doctors, lawyers, craftsmen and business people thereby gutting the economy. Cool move there Louis!
It makes me think of the slaughter of Christians today by Isis.
Not only did the King slaughter hundreds of thousands of his best, most productive citizens (maybe a million) but drove out good honest citizens, the doctors, lawyers, craftsmen and business people thereby gutting the economy. Cool move there Louis!
It makes me think of the slaughter of Christians today by Isis.
March 19, 2021
This is a very long book, so let me write an equally long review:
Samuel Smiles puts a great effort to bring this alien history to life. I went through the entire book because I trusted Smiles to give very reasonable conclusions and lessons- in which he did.
The Huguenots are French Christian Protestants who suffered greatly under the rule of the Catholics in France. Luis XIV-the King of France-woke up one day in 1685 and declared that practicing Protestantism is illegal, and subject to the severest penalties. He made this under the terms of what is known as "The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes".
Thus, he started one of the ugliest persecution in the history of Europe. In fact, after I read this history, it looked like that this oppression exceeded in its cruelty what the Nazis did in WWII. Luis XIV forced more than 1,000,000 Frenchmen either to leave France, or to be killed, imprisoned, or sent to the galleys. Children, women, and the elderly were killed if they did not convert to Catholicism. Men were enslaved and tortured if they refused to leave their beliefs. Children were taken from their mothers to be raised as Catholics. Pastors were hanged and burnt everywhere. Extreme cruelty that lasted until the French Revolution when Napoleon came and tolerated the different ethnic group in France.
This absurd law led many skilled Protestants to leave France taking with them their industry which proved the source of wealth, freedom, and character, in all those countries—Holland, Prussia, England, and America—in which these exiles took refuge. Many Huguenots manufacturers, merchants, and employers of labour, closed their workshops and factories and left for Switzerland, Germany, Holland, or England. Luis XIV destroyed the industry of France, which had been greatly been supported by the Huguenots. As result, France lost much skilled French workforce to its enemies, which contributed to the degradation of France- Hence, leading in one way or another to the French Revolution.
The famous French Philosopher- Voltaire- exposed the inhuman cruelty to the world after he took notice of an unjust execution of a Protestant by breaking him to death on the wheel. He demanded freedom for the Protestants and succeeded in giving them some breathing. Voltaire said: "It is not enough that we prove intolerance to be horrible; we must also prove to the French that it is ridiculous."
It is not necessary for me to state the recorded history in this review. Smiles does a very good job at this. After giving a very detailed history of the Huguenots, Smiles tells the story of three different Huguenots who distinguished themselves after fleeing France. Apparently, many Huguenots distinguished themselves in the societies they joined after fleeing France. In the last part of the book, Smiles gives an account of his visit to the country of Vaudois in the southern part of France trying to understand in detail the history of Huguenots in this remote part of France.
I would not say that this book was an easy read, but I certainly learned a bit of history from it.
Here are a few passages written by Smiles "Golden Pen" in this Book:
Insurrections, like revolutions, are not made of rose-water. In such cases, action and reaction are equal; the violence of the oppressors usually finding its counterpart in the violence of the oppressed
It was certainly very difficult to argue with a priest who had the hangman at his back, or with the King who had his hundred thousand dragoons
The sins of the fathers are being visited on the children
It was thought necessary that young noblemen should come in contact with foreigners, and observe the manners and customs of other countries besides their own; and that thus they might acquire a sort of cosmopolitan education
If these caves of Dauphiny had voices, what deeds of horror they could tell!
It is curious and interesting to trace the influence of personal example on human life and action
Cooking seems to be one of the lost arts of England, if indeed it ever possessed it; and our people are in the habit, through want of knowledge, of probably wasting more food
(Neff) even entertained the theory that the poorer the people the greater was their humility and fervour, and the less their selfishness and spiritual pride
The words scratched on the window of the Norwegian inn might indeed apply to it: "Here the stranger may find very good entertainment—provided he bring it with him!"
It was only the old story—the complaint of the aged against the young. When this old peasant was a boy, his elders doubtless thought and said the same of him. The generation growing old always think the generation still young in a state of degeneracy.
Samuel Smiles puts a great effort to bring this alien history to life. I went through the entire book because I trusted Smiles to give very reasonable conclusions and lessons- in which he did.
The Huguenots are French Christian Protestants who suffered greatly under the rule of the Catholics in France. Luis XIV-the King of France-woke up one day in 1685 and declared that practicing Protestantism is illegal, and subject to the severest penalties. He made this under the terms of what is known as "The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes".
Thus, he started one of the ugliest persecution in the history of Europe. In fact, after I read this history, it looked like that this oppression exceeded in its cruelty what the Nazis did in WWII. Luis XIV forced more than 1,000,000 Frenchmen either to leave France, or to be killed, imprisoned, or sent to the galleys. Children, women, and the elderly were killed if they did not convert to Catholicism. Men were enslaved and tortured if they refused to leave their beliefs. Children were taken from their mothers to be raised as Catholics. Pastors were hanged and burnt everywhere. Extreme cruelty that lasted until the French Revolution when Napoleon came and tolerated the different ethnic group in France.
This absurd law led many skilled Protestants to leave France taking with them their industry which proved the source of wealth, freedom, and character, in all those countries—Holland, Prussia, England, and America—in which these exiles took refuge. Many Huguenots manufacturers, merchants, and employers of labour, closed their workshops and factories and left for Switzerland, Germany, Holland, or England. Luis XIV destroyed the industry of France, which had been greatly been supported by the Huguenots. As result, France lost much skilled French workforce to its enemies, which contributed to the degradation of France- Hence, leading in one way or another to the French Revolution.
The famous French Philosopher- Voltaire- exposed the inhuman cruelty to the world after he took notice of an unjust execution of a Protestant by breaking him to death on the wheel. He demanded freedom for the Protestants and succeeded in giving them some breathing. Voltaire said: "It is not enough that we prove intolerance to be horrible; we must also prove to the French that it is ridiculous."
It is not necessary for me to state the recorded history in this review. Smiles does a very good job at this. After giving a very detailed history of the Huguenots, Smiles tells the story of three different Huguenots who distinguished themselves after fleeing France. Apparently, many Huguenots distinguished themselves in the societies they joined after fleeing France. In the last part of the book, Smiles gives an account of his visit to the country of Vaudois in the southern part of France trying to understand in detail the history of Huguenots in this remote part of France.
I would not say that this book was an easy read, but I certainly learned a bit of history from it.
Here are a few passages written by Smiles "Golden Pen" in this Book:
Insurrections, like revolutions, are not made of rose-water. In such cases, action and reaction are equal; the violence of the oppressors usually finding its counterpart in the violence of the oppressed
It was certainly very difficult to argue with a priest who had the hangman at his back, or with the King who had his hundred thousand dragoons
The sins of the fathers are being visited on the children
It was thought necessary that young noblemen should come in contact with foreigners, and observe the manners and customs of other countries besides their own; and that thus they might acquire a sort of cosmopolitan education
If these caves of Dauphiny had voices, what deeds of horror they could tell!
It is curious and interesting to trace the influence of personal example on human life and action
Cooking seems to be one of the lost arts of England, if indeed it ever possessed it; and our people are in the habit, through want of knowledge, of probably wasting more food
(Neff) even entertained the theory that the poorer the people the greater was their humility and fervour, and the less their selfishness and spiritual pride
The words scratched on the window of the Norwegian inn might indeed apply to it: "Here the stranger may find very good entertainment—provided he bring it with him!"
It was only the old story—the complaint of the aged against the young. When this old peasant was a boy, his elders doubtless thought and said the same of him. The generation growing old always think the generation still young in a state of degeneracy.
December 3, 2023
The Huguenots in France by Samuel Smiles offers a poignant and detailed account of the persecution suffered by the Huguenots after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. Smiles, a Scottish author with a background in medicine, politics, and a reputation for writing self-help and biographical books, presents a comprehensive narrative that spans almost a century of relentless adversity faced by the Protestant community in France.
Dr. Smiles begins his narrative with the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV, a decree that forced Huguenots to convert to Catholicism or face dire consequences such as losing their homes, death, and more. The author highlights the oppressive measures taken by the authorities, with enforcers of the revocation receiving homes and Huguenots forced to pay Jesuits for the education of their children. Smiles, known for his secular views, provides a balanced perspective on the events, emphasizing the impact of religious differences and doctrinal disputes on the hostile treatment of the Huguenots.
The effects of the revocation are explored in Chapter 2, where the Huguenots faced fines, imprisonment, and death for rejecting the King's religion. The detailed narrative unveils the harsh measures taken against them, from the restriction of practicing their professions to the torture and persecution of those attempting to flee. Smiles draws attention to the economic repercussions of expelling the Huguenots, as their departure resulted in a severe blow to the French economy, taking with them their work ethics and financial contributions.
In subsequent chapters, the book dives into the efforts of individuals like Claude Brousson, a Huguenot advocate who dedicated himself to helping his fellow Protestants. The narrative unfolds through insurrections, galley slave experiences, and the emergence of figures like Antoine Court, who played a crucial role in reconstructing the Protestant church in France.
The latter part of the book covers significant events, such as the Edict of Toleration issued by King Louis XVI in 1789, marking a shift in the treatment of Protestants. Smiles explores the changing dynamics and the eventual end of executions for faith, reflecting on the contributions of figures like Voltaire and the evolving religious landscape in France.
The book concludes with a reflection on the glorious return of the Huguenots and their enduring faith amidst persecution. Smiles' detailing of the sufferings endured by the Huguenots is an excellent historical account that not only educates readers on a critical period in French history but also prompts reflection on the enduring nature of faith and resilience in the face of adversity. It is a bit dated and dry but informative nonetheless.
Dr. Smiles begins his narrative with the revocation of the Edict of Nantes by Louis XIV, a decree that forced Huguenots to convert to Catholicism or face dire consequences such as losing their homes, death, and more. The author highlights the oppressive measures taken by the authorities, with enforcers of the revocation receiving homes and Huguenots forced to pay Jesuits for the education of their children. Smiles, known for his secular views, provides a balanced perspective on the events, emphasizing the impact of religious differences and doctrinal disputes on the hostile treatment of the Huguenots.
The effects of the revocation are explored in Chapter 2, where the Huguenots faced fines, imprisonment, and death for rejecting the King's religion. The detailed narrative unveils the harsh measures taken against them, from the restriction of practicing their professions to the torture and persecution of those attempting to flee. Smiles draws attention to the economic repercussions of expelling the Huguenots, as their departure resulted in a severe blow to the French economy, taking with them their work ethics and financial contributions.
In subsequent chapters, the book dives into the efforts of individuals like Claude Brousson, a Huguenot advocate who dedicated himself to helping his fellow Protestants. The narrative unfolds through insurrections, galley slave experiences, and the emergence of figures like Antoine Court, who played a crucial role in reconstructing the Protestant church in France.
The latter part of the book covers significant events, such as the Edict of Toleration issued by King Louis XVI in 1789, marking a shift in the treatment of Protestants. Smiles explores the changing dynamics and the eventual end of executions for faith, reflecting on the contributions of figures like Voltaire and the evolving religious landscape in France.
The book concludes with a reflection on the glorious return of the Huguenots and their enduring faith amidst persecution. Smiles' detailing of the sufferings endured by the Huguenots is an excellent historical account that not only educates readers on a critical period in French history but also prompts reflection on the enduring nature of faith and resilience in the face of adversity. It is a bit dated and dry but informative nonetheless.
February 3, 2020
An excellent account of the persecution Huguenots suffered in France after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. It’s unsettling as well in light of the fact that Christians in China and parts of Africa are facing similar persecution today.
The book is broken into three sections. The first half details the cause of the revocation and subsequent torture of the Huguenots by the Roman church and the government of France that occurred for nearly 100 years after. The author goes into great detail of the sufferings of the Protestants, the flight from France for those who could afford it, and the devastation to towns and to France itself after Protestant doctors, judges, artists, scientists, manufacturers, soldiers and more fled the country in the face of such cruelty. Of those who remained, men who weren’t shot or else-wise killed when caught at a service were sentenced to life as a galley slave and the women to life in a dungeon.
After reading of the risks they took to worship the Lord according to the scriptures and their conscience, I stopped lamenting over the fact that two of the three services we have at our church each week occur at night when I’m weary. How easy we have it!
In the second half of the book, about one quarter is devoted to essays of prominent Huguenots, and the other focuses on the church and a visit to Vaudois by the author. According to the author, a tradition among the Vaudois is that residents of the region received the gospel from Early Christian missionaries, who shared the gospel and scriptures in its “primitive form.” As isolated as they were in that region of France, they maintained these teachings even after the Roman church grew in power and “departed more and more from its primitive condition, until at length it was scarcely to be recognized from the Paganism which it had superseded.” After the Roman Catholic Church noticed them, severe persecution began.
The Huguenots of France is an excellent reminder of the importance of staying true to the scriptures and persevering in the faith.
The book is broken into three sections. The first half details the cause of the revocation and subsequent torture of the Huguenots by the Roman church and the government of France that occurred for nearly 100 years after. The author goes into great detail of the sufferings of the Protestants, the flight from France for those who could afford it, and the devastation to towns and to France itself after Protestant doctors, judges, artists, scientists, manufacturers, soldiers and more fled the country in the face of such cruelty. Of those who remained, men who weren’t shot or else-wise killed when caught at a service were sentenced to life as a galley slave and the women to life in a dungeon.
After reading of the risks they took to worship the Lord according to the scriptures and their conscience, I stopped lamenting over the fact that two of the three services we have at our church each week occur at night when I’m weary. How easy we have it!
In the second half of the book, about one quarter is devoted to essays of prominent Huguenots, and the other focuses on the church and a visit to Vaudois by the author. According to the author, a tradition among the Vaudois is that residents of the region received the gospel from Early Christian missionaries, who shared the gospel and scriptures in its “primitive form.” As isolated as they were in that region of France, they maintained these teachings even after the Roman church grew in power and “departed more and more from its primitive condition, until at length it was scarcely to be recognized from the Paganism which it had superseded.” After the Roman Catholic Church noticed them, severe persecution began.
The Huguenots of France is an excellent reminder of the importance of staying true to the scriptures and persevering in the faith.
December 6, 2020
Surprisingly Vivid depiction of the persecution of huguenots in France
I'm descended from Huguenot I was told they left France because of religious persecution. I had no idea what that meant. They were hanged they were sent for Lifetime as Galley slaves their children were taken from them they were burned alive in churches. All of this in an attempt to persuade them to convert to Catholicism. It did not work. There were a lot of secondhand accounts of the things that happened individual people in this book. Was really quite fascinating in a horrible way.
I'm descended from Huguenot I was told they left France because of religious persecution. I had no idea what that meant. They were hanged they were sent for Lifetime as Galley slaves their children were taken from them they were burned alive in churches. All of this in an attempt to persuade them to convert to Catholicism. It did not work. There were a lot of secondhand accounts of the things that happened individual people in this book. Was really quite fascinating in a horrible way.
June 24, 2025
History cape of good hope
Reading the huguenots for what positive they delivered in SA I understand their plight and fight from their country. Those people were good and the Roman church the bad actors. What is called brother love in christianity?
Reading the huguenots for what positive they delivered in SA I understand their plight and fight from their country. Those people were good and the Roman church the bad actors. What is called brother love in christianity?
August 5, 2021
Persecution seems to look similar in all ages. As I began reading the book, the kind of persecution, the zeal of the persecutors reminded me of the persecution of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the early 1800's. It seemed so terribly similar. In America, this intolerance preceded the civil war.
My second impression was that there was trend of intolerance among the French that sets the stage for the atrocities of the so called French revolution. The decades of persecution under King Louis XIV destroyed many villages, killing or driving off the most productive of the people, and instead of dampening Protestant fervor, served to strengthen the faith.
When you kill and drive off the most productive of the people, what changes does that cause to the civilization?
- Fewer workers
- A culture of greed, avarice (destroying and acquiring the properties of those persecuted)
- Less motivated workforce
- The hearts of the people become hard
- A culture of intolerance
"The exodus of Huguenots from France created a brain drain, as many Huguenots had occupied important places in society. The kingdom did not fully recover for years." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugenots...)
This book is divided into three parts.
The first part covers the persecution of the Hugenots in France, The persecutions, atrocities, massacres heaped upon them, the flight of those who could to other countries (to the tune of about 200,000 souls), those that came back to preach to the persecuted at the peril of their lives.
The second part has biographies of a few of a few prominent individuals.
The third part is the state of the country during the time of the author. It also contains some additional history of the persecutions and battles in the mountains. Unlike Part 1, where it was mostly flee, hide, or be killed, this recounts several instances where the Vaudois in the mountains successfully repelled much larger forces.
To get a picture of the extent of the persecution, I put together this little timeline.
1335 - Part 3 Chapter III. Accounting record mentions persecution expense Also 1348, 1393, 1488, 1489.
1486 18,000 French troops beat back by Vaudois who had hardly any weapons (location 5808)
1573 - the massacare of St. Bartholomew - "Traditionally believed to have been instigated by Catherine de' Medici" (Wikipedia)
1593 - Edict of Nantes - grants some degree of religious tolerance
1685 - Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by King Louis XIV (Persecution becomes intense)
1686 - An edict against the Vaudois abolishing their privileges (location 5975)
1715 - Death of Louis XIV (Mentioned 37% of the way through the book)
1720 - Persecution still going on
1729 - Still persecution
1730-1762 - Part 1 Chapter XII. The Church In The Desert, —Paul Rabaut
1762 - Part 1 Chapter XIII. End Of The Persecutions—The French Revolution
1767 - Part 3 Chapter III. 1767 Another pastor condemed to death
1789–1799 - The French Revolution (also 1830, 1848, 1870)
1823 - Part 3 Chapter III. Felix Neff decides to go preach to the scattered Christians in the High Alps ... died age 31
1848 - "their emancipation was one of the great questions of North Italy." (last page)
(I read a Kindle edition that does not match either of the two shown in Goodreads.)
My second impression was that there was trend of intolerance among the French that sets the stage for the atrocities of the so called French revolution. The decades of persecution under King Louis XIV destroyed many villages, killing or driving off the most productive of the people, and instead of dampening Protestant fervor, served to strengthen the faith.
When you kill and drive off the most productive of the people, what changes does that cause to the civilization?
- Fewer workers
- A culture of greed, avarice (destroying and acquiring the properties of those persecuted)
- Less motivated workforce
- The hearts of the people become hard
- A culture of intolerance
"The exodus of Huguenots from France created a brain drain, as many Huguenots had occupied important places in society. The kingdom did not fully recover for years." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugenots...)
This book is divided into three parts.
The first part covers the persecution of the Hugenots in France, The persecutions, atrocities, massacres heaped upon them, the flight of those who could to other countries (to the tune of about 200,000 souls), those that came back to preach to the persecuted at the peril of their lives.
The second part has biographies of a few of a few prominent individuals.
The third part is the state of the country during the time of the author. It also contains some additional history of the persecutions and battles in the mountains. Unlike Part 1, where it was mostly flee, hide, or be killed, this recounts several instances where the Vaudois in the mountains successfully repelled much larger forces.
To get a picture of the extent of the persecution, I put together this little timeline.
1335 - Part 3 Chapter III. Accounting record mentions persecution expense Also 1348, 1393, 1488, 1489.
1486 18,000 French troops beat back by Vaudois who had hardly any weapons (location 5808)
1573 - the massacare of St. Bartholomew - "Traditionally believed to have been instigated by Catherine de' Medici" (Wikipedia)
1593 - Edict of Nantes - grants some degree of religious tolerance
1685 - Revocation of the Edict of Nantes by King Louis XIV (Persecution becomes intense)
1686 - An edict against the Vaudois abolishing their privileges (location 5975)
1715 - Death of Louis XIV (Mentioned 37% of the way through the book)
1720 - Persecution still going on
1729 - Still persecution
1730-1762 - Part 1 Chapter XII. The Church In The Desert, —Paul Rabaut
1762 - Part 1 Chapter XIII. End Of The Persecutions—The French Revolution
1767 - Part 3 Chapter III. 1767 Another pastor condemed to death
1789–1799 - The French Revolution (also 1830, 1848, 1870)
1823 - Part 3 Chapter III. Felix Neff decides to go preach to the scattered Christians in the High Alps ... died age 31
1848 - "their emancipation was one of the great questions of North Italy." (last page)
(I read a Kindle edition that does not match either of the two shown in Goodreads.)
April 28, 2016
Overall decent read of Huguenot history in France post Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. Smiles delivers both an overall view of the persecution of the Huguenots as well as specific stories concerning leading Huguenot preachers and Camisard military leaders.
Latter half of the book is about the Vaudois and their persecution at the hands of the Dukes of Savoy.
In all honesty, it was a decent read but struggled between detail and glossing over as well as no real rhyme or reason on why some parts were deeply detailed and others were not. Having said that, I still enjoyed it and feel like my knowledge of the events and history of the period has increased
Latter half of the book is about the Vaudois and their persecution at the hands of the Dukes of Savoy.
In all honesty, it was a decent read but struggled between detail and glossing over as well as no real rhyme or reason on why some parts were deeply detailed and others were not. Having said that, I still enjoyed it and feel like my knowledge of the events and history of the period has increased
December 24, 2010
A very good history of the Huguenots in France.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews