Suspicions, jealousies and denunciations follow one another, in an explosive cocktail, all in a context (resulting) of civil war, increasing scarcity, hunger and attacks at the border. As the noose tightens around the different factions tear each other apart, leading right to the implacable dictatorship masterfully led by Robespierre, the same who paints a vibrant praise of human rights and refers constantly to Vertu (like its worthy heirs of today, always quick to ask lesson donors).
And the blade of the guillotine speaks tirelessly, taking successively as the bravest members that Charlotte Corday or other celebrities against their history, as well as Marie Antoinette and even executioners themselves, such Danton guilty as Camille Desmoulins yet longtime friend of Robespierre to be among the Moderates, who want to moderators in this time of terror where the blood flows more qu'abondamment and perishing sentenced by the Revolutionary Court, he had itself established. The time is to show trials, while newspapers are the orders and the arbitrary rule.
The elements are in fury, genocide Vendée is decided in order to make an impression and stifling any hint of protest, blood flows abundantly ad nauseam over the total.
The period, I repeat (see Volume 1) the worst in the history of France and inspiring more abominable totalitarianism that will succeed in the twentieth century. The vocabulary demonstrates, with the Committee of Public Safety, Committee of Public hello, revolutionary army, revolutionary committees, suspects law, enemies of the people ... that reveal a true fanaticism and although we show similarities with the Russian Revolution 1917 with its revolutionary intellectuals who are overcome by their extreme and run by well less idealistic ultras its queues before the near-empty food stores, etc. Events that still make vivid the famous phrase of Madame Roland on the scaffold: "Liberty, what crimes are committed in thy name." She who said "He came predicted time when the people asking for bread, it is given the corpses."
Frightening and incomprehensible when we know how the reference is to the permanent yet so flouted and Freedom lorsqu`on realize it's the ultra-revolutionary Hébertist Momoro who is behind this motto "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity "which still adorns the front of our largest buildings to which we refer so proudly.
And this quote Bookseller Ruault symbolizes alone the whole revolutionary period: "What a strange nation. It gives all ends! She loved her kings, she killed the last. She bowed with pleasure under the yoke of Catholicism, she just overthrow from top to bottom. She knows terraced measuring point ... What will be the end of all this? It can only be very miserable. "
And actually, extremism Robespierre eventually turn against him and his followers, carrying the Revolution into chaos Uprising, famine and civil strife.
Then comes the time of the Management Board, which it is hoped will lead to more appeasement. But, caught between "anarchists" (Babouvists Gracchus Babeuf) and royalists, Barras eventually foment a coup. Meanwhile, the people, hungry and without illusion, in almost came to wish the return of the royalists, who we talk to "freedom" even though it is more than ever plunged into poverty. And indeed, as a republic, he only sees corruption, immorality and power struggles. In this, the Revolution seems a failure.
And this is what will allow Bonaparte, very strategist, to prevail in the hearts of people during his campaigns in Italy and Egypt, without the latter losing a moment of view how Point the people are fickle and might as well be happy to see him carry the scaffold. Until the coup he realizes in turn, with great finesse and intelligence, the events also playing in his favor, thereby finally put in its way, the order in operation the State.
And that is another story begins ...
A book very well written, the great Max Gallo, which allows us to project ourselves realistically in the context of that time.
A reading that I recommend highly.
