Helen Williams and the French Revolution (History Eyewitness)

Williams, Helen Maria

ISBN 10: 0811482871 ISBN 13: 9780811482875

Publisher: Heinemann/Raintree, 1996

Helen Williams, an Englishwoman living in Paris in 1793-94, writes an account of the Reign of Terror which claimed thousands of victims

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From School Library Journal:

Grade 5-9?Up-close and personal looks at two momentous periods of Western history are provided through these eye-witness accounts. Christabel Bielenberg's experiences in Germany during the decade of Hitler's power give poignant emphasis to the effect of totalitarian oppression on the private lives of individuals. Her husband was sent to a concentration camp, and she herself confronted the Gestapo and placed herself in danger to protest his imprisonment. Helen Williams, an Englishwoman living in Paris in 1793-94, wrote an account of the Reign of Terror when the guillotine claimed thousands of victims. This narrative, with its reports of rumors and daily news, records her fears for herself and her family, her experiences in the grim prisons of Paris, and the mounting frenzy of trials and executions that led to the sudden and violent fall of the tyrant. The slim volumes are plentifully illustrated with well-chosen photographs and posters from Germany, and, in the case of France, contemporary and appropriately gruesome prints of arrests and beheadings. Since the texts are sometimes biased or factually mistaken, both books contain notes to tie the narratives to historical events and explain specific comments or viewpoints. Introductory notes give brief biographies of the women and the circumstances of their writing. The material has been edited and "additional material" supplied, which leaves many questions about the publishing history of these accounts and the reliability of the texts for serious research. But for making history come alive for today's readers, these books are acceptable.?Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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