She attacks the "revisionist" history of scholars like François Furet, who view the Revolution through the lens of modern liberal democracy and judge it by "timeless" standards of morality rather than historical necessity. Critical Reception
The book includes a long foreword by Slavoj Žižek. Some reviewers find his introduction ill-suited or more of a "movie review" than a historical guide, though others find it valuable for framing the "objective violence" of systems. In Defence of the Terror: Liberty or Death in t...
The book focuses on the emotions of the revolution —dread, fury, and sacred enthusiasm—arguing that these feelings were the driving force behind political decisions. She attacks the "revisionist" history of scholars like
The book is best suited for readers already familiar with the French Revolution who are interested in political philosophy or the anthropology of violence. You can find more perspectives on The Guardian and Marx & Philosophy. Reviewed by Patrick King - Marx & Philosophy Society The book focuses on the emotions of the