Publishing and Cultural Politics in Revolutionary Paris, 1789-1810

The French Revolution in 1789 initiated a cultural experiment that transformed French literary civilization by liberating the trade from absolutist institutions and inaugurating a free-market exchange of ideas. Carla Hesse's book offers a new perspective on the relationship between democratic revolutions and modern cultural life, exploring the uncharted terrains of popular fiction, authors' rights, and literary life under the Terror.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 25 March 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

The French Revolution, initiated in 1789 by French revolutionaries, embarked on a profound cultural experiment that reshaped the fundamental aspects of French literary civilization. In a comprehensive analysis, Carla Hesse delves into the seismic impact of the Revolution on the Parisian printing and publishing landscape, liberating the trade from the strict control of absolutist institutions and ushering in a era of free-market exchange of ideas.

Historians and literary critics have traditionally viewed the French Revolution as a catastrophic event for French literary culture. However, Hesse's research reveals that revolutionaries intentionally dismantled the elite literary civilization of the Old Regime to create unprecedented access to the printed word. By exploring the uncharted territories of popular fiction, authors' rights, and literary life during the Terror, Hesse offers a fresh perspective on the interplay between democratic revolutions and modern cultural life.

This book is a valuable addition to UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates the University of California Press's commitment to seeking out and nurturing the brightest minds and providing them with a platform to express their ideas, reach a wider audience, and have a lasting impact. Drawing on a rich backlist dating back to 1893, Voices Revived employs print-on-demand technology to make high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again. This title, originally published in 1991, contributes to the ongoing exploration of historical events and their profound consequences on society.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520301931