Revolution and Improvement: The Western World 1775-1847

The Western World 1775–1847 explores the transformative decades that shaped the modern West, highlighting the interplay of revolution and improvement. John Roberts examines the period between the American Revolution and the revolutions of 1848, highlighting the paradox of simultaneous rupture and continuity. Richly illustrated, the book offers a fresh synthesis of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century Western history and a reflective meditation on the impact of revolutions, reforms, and resistances on global modernity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 27 May 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Revolution and Improvement: The Western World 1775–1847 is a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the transformative decades that shaped the modern West. John Roberts identifies the period between the American Revolution and the revolutions of 1848 as a pivotal "zone of change," where the intertwined forces of revolution and improvement reshaped politics, economies, and mentalities. Through a narrative that balances narrative breadth with interpretive sharpness, Roberts presents Western ascendancy as a story of uneven development and contested meaning. He highlights the paradox of simultaneous rupture and continuity, examining how liberal ideals, Enlightenment mentalities, and emerging market economies collided with ancien régime institutions, corporate privilege, and entrenched hierarchies. Richly illustrated with maps and images, Revolution and Improvement offers a fresh synthesis of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century Western history and a reflective meditation on how revolutions, reforms, and resistances remade the foundations of global modernity. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates the University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. Originally published in 1976, this title remains a valuable resource for scholars and students interested in the history of the Western world.

Weight: 499g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520321557