
audiobook
Through a collection of candid letters, an English lady shares her experiences living in France during the tumultuous years of 1792‑1795. Her correspondence, edited with a clear intent to set the record straight, offers a rare, ground‑level perspective on the early Revolution as it unfolded in towns and salons. The writer describes the shifting mood of the streets, the fervor in cafés, and the everyday rituals that persisted amid political upheaval.
Beyond the political headlines, the letters reveal the subtleties of French manners, the rhythms of domestic life, and the personal anxieties of a foreign observer navigating a society in flux. Readers hear the author's thoughtful comparisons between English and French customs, her admiration and occasional disquiet, and a nuanced portrait of a nation grappling with ideals of liberty and the realities of violence. The narrative remains intimate, making the distant past feel immediate and accessible.
For anyone curious about the human side of the French Revolution, these letters serve as both a personal diary and a cultural commentary. The listening experience blends vivid description with reflective analysis, allowing the audience to hear the pulse of a nation at a pivotal moment while appreciating the timeless observations of an observant outsider.
Full title
A Residence in France During the Years 1792, 1793, 1794 and 1795, Part I. 1792 Described in a Series of Letters from an English Lady: with General and Incidental Remarks on the French Character and Manners
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (225K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Mary Munarin and David Widger
Release date
2004-04-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
d. 1827
A sharp-eyed British writer who turned her experiences in Revolutionary France into vivid political travel writing, she also campaigned energetically for loyalist causes at home. Her life seems to have mixed firsthand observation, pamphleteering, and determined self-reinvention.
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