Revolutionary Justice in Paris, 1789–1790

This book examines how France's revolutionary authorities handled political opposition in the year following the fall of the Bastille. Though demands for more severe treatment of the enemies of the new regime were frequently and loudly expressed, and though portents and warning signs of the coming unwillingness to tolerate opposition were hardly lacking, political justice in 1789–90 was in fact characterized by a remarkable degree of indulgence and forbearance. Through an investigation of the judicial affairs, which attracted the most public attention in Paris during this period, this study seeks to identify the factors, which produced a temporary victory for policies of mildness and restraint.