The Modern Scholar: Liberty and Its Price

Understanding the French Revolution

By: Professor Donald Sutherland

Narrated by: Professor Donald Sutherland

Esteemed professor Donald M.G. Sutherland provides a riveting account of the French Revolution, explaining how its effects varied greatly according to regional economies, social structures, and religious affiliations. He examines how massive counter revolutionary movements profoundly affected the course of the Revolution, Leading to the failure of constitutional government and, ultimately, to an elitist dictatorship (in the person of Napoleon Bonaparte) that paved the way for many of the struggles of the 19th century.

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2008 Donald M.G. Sutherland (P)2008 Recorded Books,LLC

Good Overview of French Revolution

Really good on the causes of the French Revolution and describing the Terror. The only part I wanted more from was the description of Napoleon’s France which tended to emphasize the military history more than I liked.

Presentation

Does he have a cold? Unfortunately, his presentation made this very hard to listen to.

Good book, but a bit morbid

Be prepared to hear various methods of murder for about 60% of the book. The author has a morbid obsession the terror of the first years after the revolution, while neglecting the relevant stuff. For most of the book there is no clarity of who was running the government, what was the process of electing officials... etc.
Napoleon's rise to power is treated very succinctly, but there are some good observations of his reign.
Conclusion: good book, I still learned a lot, but I wish there were less murder descriptions and more political science.

Compelling overview of an amazing era

Would you listen to The Modern Scholar: Liberty and Its Price again? Why?

I do indeed plan to listen to it again, as I found not only the content to be interesting but the professor's presentation to be easy to listen to and follow. And I have his book on this subject now in my Audible wishlist and am looking forward to listening to it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Napoleon. Because, who else?

What does Donald Sutherland bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His clear fascination for the period and his references to his research.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No.

Any additional comments?

The French Revolution and indeed the history of the Continent in the early 19th Century was something of a blank space in my education. This lectures series went a long way towards filling it in.