The French Revolution
By: Ian Davidson
Narrated by: Clive Chafer
Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins

A New World Begins
By: Jeremy D. Popkin
Narrated by: Pete Cross, Jeremy D. Popkin
Length: 21 hrs and 54 mins

Upon finishing Lafayette’s story, I sensed a gap in my understanding of this era, prompting me to dive deeper. Thus, I embarked on a dual reading journey, immersing myself in two books simultaneously to gather diverse perspectives on the same historical events.

Navigating through the texts chronologically, I really appreciated their shared content which reinforced the major points. The initial tranquility of the revolution struck me profoundly, suggesting a potentially less violent course compared to earlier upheavals across the English Channel from a century before. However, the eruption of the Terror abruptly shattered this illusion.

By the journey’s end, while my foundational knowledge remained intact, I found myself refining certain impressions.

Ian Davidson’s conclusion resonated with me particularly. His portrayal of the French Revolution as a precursor to nearly two centuries of tumultuous change, marked by shifts between kings, republics, and emperors, struck a chord. Only the peaceful transfer of power with Charles de Gaulle’s resignation in 1969, though with a note of caution regarding ongoing stability, signified the harbinger of one of the most sustained period of calm since the monarchy’s decline in 1789.