The opposite of Schama if you like, extremely concise, Rudé covers not only the Revolution but also Napoleon's rise to power and the Revolution's wider effects in Europe, the World, and the legacy in France up to the present day. Quite an achievement for a volume of just 183 pages, and as a companion to Schama it is ideal, as it provides a summary to read alongside. However once we leave Schama behind, the coarse grain of such a judicious synthesis becomes apparent. It left me wanting to read more about Napoleon, as what's presented here is a very quick overview of the revolutionary legacy he brought to various European countries: the Code Civile, equality before the law, a removal of seigneurial dues and levies and the opening of posts and careers to men of talent rather than of name. But the differences in the different countries are really only sketched in very broad strokes - useful as a summary perhaps in addition to something more detailed.