Rational Era: France: France

Author: Life Books Company
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-02-01
Features: The Age of Reason·France is one of the world history series Living in Distant Times published by Time-Life Books for you. This volume tells the story of how these French kings sought supreme power, leading to the overthrow of the monarchy during the French Revolution, leaving a lasting impression. However, the book also narrates the story of another kind of revolution—the intellectual revolution. It focuses on the daily lives and brilliant achievements of the great thinkers of the time—such as the philosophers Voltaire, Rousseau, and Diderot, scientists like the chemist Lavoisier and the mathematician Lagrange, as well as astronomers such as Pierre-Simon Laplace—who changed people's understanding of the world and paved the way for a technological revolution. In addition, the book provides a detailed description of the lifestyle of the bourgeoisie during this turbulent and socially transformative era, as well as the struggles of men and women striving to make a living. The paintings of the era's artistic masters vividly depict the people of France, while other works portray the daily labor of the lower classes. Engravings, sculptures, and sketches, which could be completed relatively quickly, offer a fleeting glimpse of daily life in the 17th and 18th centuries for modern audiences. These works include scenes of street vendors hawking goods in Paris, as well as descriptions of events like balloon flights and scientific experiments. A wide variety of items, from the celestial globe known as the armillary sphere to the fragrant porcelain flowers placed in the garden by Madame Pompadour, form the complete backdrop of the works. To compile this series, the colleagues of Time-Life Books immersed themselves in the collections of scholars, travelers, museums, and universities. They not only provided each book with rich illustrations of art and crafts to vividly recreate the life of the past but also drew various maps, reconstructions of cities and buildings, and the entire world in which the stories took place. The introductory overview is a profound historical essay, accompanied by a timeline, giving you a clear picture of the era being described. The narrative is engaging and avoids clichés. Every detail, every image, every anecdote, and every historical fact will refresh your perspective—allowing you to feel what life was like in that distant time.