"They are rioting,” Claude said simply. “The dismissal of M. Necker has caused a furor. We are plunged into a state of anarchy, and anarchy is not a word I use ... There is a state of insurrection .. They are setting the customs barriers on fire. They have closed the theaters and broken into the waxworks … There are five thousand people, six thousand people, marching on the Tuileries. That is just one procession and there are others coming up to join them. They are destroying the city.” - Hilary Manrel, A Place Of Greater Safety
A Place Of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel. Published in 1992 is an excellent novel about the French Revolution and how what began with noble ideals descended into mass terror. I am on page 202 and the book is over 700 pages but it doesn't feel long. It’s the kind of novel I can't wait to get back to reading.
A Place Of Greater Safety tells the story of the French Revolution by focusing on three of its revolutionary leaders: Camille Desmoulins, Georges Danton and Maximillian Robespierre. Robespierre's name is the most well known because he was the most infamous.
During the French Revolution Robespierre was one of the most prominent leaders of what has come to be known as “The Reign of Terror”. I did some checking and according to AI about 17,000 died by guillotine and many more died in prison during the Reign of Terror and Robespierre referred to the people who were killed as “enemies of the Revolution”.
As for Camille Desmoulins and Georges Danton they bravely spoke out when they saw how bloodthirsty the revolution was becoming and they paid for their courage with their lives. Things did not end well for Robespierre either.
A Place Of Greater Safety isn't all violence and executions however. We meet Camille Desmoulins, Georges Danton and Maximillian Robespierre as children. We get to know their families, their days in school, who they married and how they became revolutionaries.
Many other fascinating characters populate the book. Lucille Desmoulins, Gabrielle Danton, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, the Duke of Orleans to name just a few. And they are so well drawn by Hilary Mantel.
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette can be exasperating. Louis is ineffectual in dealing with France's worsening economic crisis and Marie Antoinette has been living in her own world buying dresses, jewels, new furniture.
But I had empathy for them in that they were trapped in the roles history assigned to them. Marie Antoinette was married off to Louis XVI at age 16. And Louis from birth was destined to be King a job he didn’t know how to do and probably didn't even want.
I am a quarter of the way through A Place Of Greater Safety and normally I wait until I finish a book before sharing my thoughts. But I just couldn't resist. It's such a great read.
I think the only book I've read set during the French Revolution is A Tale of Two Cities. Oh, and I once read an excellent biography of Marie Antoinette. I'm glad this book is turning out to be such a great read. :D
ReplyDeleteI remember your review if The Scarlett Pimpernel which I would like to read as well. And I would be curious about a biography of Marie Antoinette. A Place of Greater Safety is such a great. For me it's 5 stars.
DeleteI haven't read a book of this genre yet. Looks promising.
ReplyDeleteIt's long but it's worth it.
DeleteI have read Wolf Hall and the other books in the Thomas Cromwell trilogy. Recently I had been thinking about trying other books by Hilary Mantel, but I think this one is too long for me, although the time and subject sounds very good.
ReplyDeleteIt is long but I would say if you liked Wolf Hall you will really like A Place Of Greater Safety. I am on page 300 now and my only regret is it has to end.
DeleteI don't have any interest in Mantel's Wolf Hall trilogy, but this, about the French Revolution, might be a different matter as I'm more interested in the time period.
ReplyDeleteI have not read the Wolf Hall trilogy and don't see myself doing so but A Place Of Greater Safety now on page 450 is wonderful. It's about 750 pages but it's such a page turner and the characters particularly Camille Desmoulins are not to be forgotten.
DeleteOh wow--this sounds absolutely terrific. I read the first two books in the Wolf Hall trilogy (couldn't bear to read about Cromwell's downfall and execution), and loved Hall's style and voice.
ReplyDeleteI know some of the FR history, but focusing on three individuals and tracking their story over time really appeals to me.
I am currently reading John Adams, who was in France as a diplomat during the American Revolution, and admired the young Louis XVI and his elegant queen.
The French story is so tragic because, as you say, it started with such noble ideals that descended into terror.
I am now on page 560 with 200 more to go and I can say without any hesitation A Place Of Greater Safety is a marvelous book. And Mantel was so right to focus on 3 characters: Desmoulins, Danton and Robespierre. Hilary Mantel is a brilliant writer and though the book is long it has not been a chore to read at all and I am loving this novel
DeleteOh nicely reviewed. Wow sounds like a good one. I'm curious of the French Revolution and have read Christopter Hibbert's book Days of the F.R. as an overview. I did not realize Mantel had written about this and will look for it. I like how she focuses on the three. I once had to write a school paper on Jean-Paul Marat ... so I wonder if he is mentioned in her book?
ReplyDeleteThanks and Paul Marat is not a central character in the novel but he is a rather notable second tier character. Mantel has alot to say about him. It's definitely a novel worth checking out and I got it through kindle unlimited
DeleteI know that feeling! Sometimes I'm not even sure if the book would end as I expect it would but if I like how the story is going, I also share it.
ReplyDeleteI finished it now and I can say it was a great novel. The ending was so moving and though the book is long its definitely worth your time.
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