Wish I could've given this course 6 stars

Would you consider the audio edition of Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon to be better than the print version?

I've never said this before about any other course but I would've given this course 6 stars if possible. Breath-takingly well done from start to finish.

I went back and forth on whether I wanted to purchase this course for a loooong time. I had some other courses on Western Civilization and European history and wasn't sure if their coverage of the French Revolution and Napoleon would be sufficient enough to satisfy my knowledge hunger needs. Plus the length of this course caused me to shy away: 48 lecture courses or longer always scare me just because I find myself with a short attention span and zone out the longer the course.

But something kept drawing me back to this course and the intrigue of these monumental historical events. I finally gave in and I am very disappointed in myself for having waited so long.

This course was just spectacular and stunningly fascinating on so many levels.

The professor does an excellent job of “setting the scene” and “telling the story” of key events. She knows how to paint a picture and describe the atmosphere of certain events in such a way that makes you feel like you were there yourself (i.e the Estates-General meeting).

She kept my interest throughout the course and throughout each lecture because she spent just enough time on each topic, never leaving me with the feeling that something was being dragged out. This is one of those few courses that will leave you wanting more. In fact in one of the latter lectures she explained the different forms of government France took during 1815-1940 and she made the comment "Don't worry I won't be covering all of that time" and I found myself cursing my iPhone: YES, I want nothing more than to hear her continue! I would be the first to buy a new course from her on French history.

She provided excellent narration of historical events surrounding France from 1789-1814 including a great description of the transition between different phases of the revolution including:
o Abolishment of feudalism and granting of rights to the citizens
o Creation of a constitutional monarchy with the creation of the Deputies (legislative branch)
o Creation of a left-leaning Republic with the elimination of the monarchy
o International war with European powers: first with the Austrian empire (from the north via Belgium) and Prussia & parts of Italy (from the east) and then Spain (from the south) and Great Britain (from the west)
o Counter revolution civil war (royalists)
o Intra revolution struggles including those believing in a strong centralized Republic and those in favor of local power
o The Terror in which the revolutionists executed thousands of political enemies under the accusation that they were “conspiracists”
o The Directory (moderate Republic) in which an executive branch of five individuals and a two-house legislative branch were introduced
o The setting up of “sister Republics” in the Netherlands, Belgium and parts of Italy
o Napoleon’s coup which overthrew the Directory and established the Consulate (three counsuls with Napoleon as First Consul with strong authoritative power)
o Napoleon crowning himself as Emperor
o After Austria and Prussia surrendered and after a victory over the Russians resulted in a peace treaty in which France and Russia both recognized the other's empire, Napoleon built an empire stretching throughout continental Europe including German lands, parts of Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, and Poland
o Restoration of the monarchy (Louis XVIII) after the allies (led by Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Great Britain) occupied Paris and Napoleon was banished
o Napoleon's escape and return to power as a constitutional emperor forcing Louis XVIII to flee
o Louis XVIII’s restoration of the throne following Napoleon's abdication after his defeat at Waterloo


I usually like to call out at least 1-2 negatives of a course but I really got a headache wracking my brain trying to think of one for this course. The only remote thing I could come up with: On very rare occasions the Professor would try to imitate the voice of one of the characters she was discussing or the big bad wolf in the Little Red Riding Hood tale and it just didn’t work. But this is the definition of nit-picking. She did a stellar job and I learned so much from this course.

If you have any interest whatsoever in the French Revolution, Napoleon, or the major revolutionary wars you will hate yourself for not purchasing this course. Take it from someone who hemmed and hawed for so long before finally deciding to give it a chance. There are few guarantees but I feel safe this one time in guaranteeing your satisfaction.

52 people found this helpful

Mostly French Revolution

Whilst the course is about the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon, it's primary focus is on the French Revolution. That being said, whilst I'm a fan of Napoleon, this is a bit more hostile towards Napoleon than Napoleon podcast by J David Markham and Cameron Reilly, it's more friendly towards the Revolutionaries.

Overall, this is a great overview of the French Revolution.

30 people found this helpful

History from a certain point of view

Rather than trying to limit her own biases, the author seems to revel in them. Lots of rationalizing for The Terror and lots of glossing over the obvious parts of it that have made it pretty much inexcusable to history. Almost completely leaves out the mass drownings of the "Revolutionary Baptisms" and doesn't even mention the more sadistic parts of The Terror (such as the truly awful "Revolutionary Marriages"). One could easily imagine the author defending the secret police and purges of Lenin and Stalin.

24 people found this helpful

Such a great balance of the big picture and detail

Any additional comments?

This was a marvelous course. Professor Desan has clearly mastered her subject and so her organization and presentation of the material was nothing short of brilliant. She provides an overview of the forces at work during this historical period and illustrates them with wonderful particulars - songs, quotes, diary entries, letters, etc. She gives you a sense of what it felt like to be alive during each of the stages of the Revolution.

I recommend this with no reservations.

24 people found this helpful

A People's Revision

What disappointed you about Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon?

25 hours of revisionist history. This course is an apologia for the Reign of Terror, which was minimized, excused, and discussed only in brief generalities. Every event or opinion that wasn't pro-revolution, from historic to her research, Dr. Desan tries to delegitimatize with disparaging adjectives or caveats. For example, when 15 revolutionaries were killed, Dr. Desan describes it as a heinous crime committed by fanatics who wanted to impose another absolute monarch; when conducting her research, she met a medical doctor who wasn't pro-Revolution. He was described as an ultra-conservative who hated immigrants.

I didn't expect the book to be objective, but I was hoping for a less politicized account and most of all, I was hoping to learn about the actual Revolution. Instead, I learned how slaves felt oppressed in Haiti (2 chapters) and how women handled divorce in a two year period (1 chapter), and also that Napoleon was a fool and a terrible general (6 chapters). From this Course, one wonders why we remember Napoleon at all. Dr. Desan is a testament to what's wrong with higher learning in America.

Would you ever listen to anything by The Great Courses again?

Yes, but only because of Audible's return policy.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator (Dr. Desan) used terms like "turds" and relied on modern tropes to describe history. She exercised the informal vocabulary of someone inebriated talking to friends. My spouse heard me listening and thought it was a student podcast. Dr. Desan's lexicon and informality were worse than her frequent stuttering.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Enough frustration to write my first review after 50+ audiobooks.

23 people found this helpful

Liberal/Lefty Professor's Revisionist History

A one-sided Liberal professor's left (socialist) revisionist history of the French Revolution and related events. The problem with this course is as usual; what the professor does not tell you in order to shape her students understanding of history to meet hers. As a past teacher of history and avid reader of multiple views of historical events her blatant bias against the traditional Aristocracies of Europe and favorable presentation of the "revolutionaries" makes this course an overall waste of your time. The violence, massive executions by guillotine, and general anarchy, and confiscation of wealth and land from French citizens by the "revolution's" supporters is either totally omitted, downplayed, or justified by the author, while the Aristocracy's and Catholic church's attempt to maintain the social order is mostly ignored. There are two sides of the French Revolution and this author mostly presents one side. Don't waste your time and money on this book.

18 people found this helpful

Stunning!

If you could sum up Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon in three words, what would they be?

Memorable, entertaining tale

What was one of the most memorable moments of Living the French Revolution and the Age of Napoleon?

Suzanne Desan picks her examples & words carefully. This is not presented in a dry manner, but is comprehensive in scope.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Far too long (at 48 lessons) but couldn't wait to listen to next chapters.

Any additional comments?

This is educational but it's pure fun too. Beautifully planned to keep you interested & informed.

17 people found this helpful

Justifies and minimizes the crimes of the Terror.

The good Professor Desan is an undoubtably qualified scholar, but her political biases show vividly in this course. Revolutionary lies and conspiracy theories are bandied about with gusto and presented as fact.
She does everything in her power to downplay the cruelty and evil of the Terror.
Her political sympathies blind her to the results of the revolution and it shows.

She does an admirable job otherwise.

16 people found this helpful

Excellent Presentation

What about Professor Suzanne M. Desan’s performance did you like?

Professor Desan's enthusiasm really brought this topic to life. She did an excellent job explaining what was going on in ancien regime France that brought about such a profound event and the revolution's impact on France and Europe. In fact, I have a much better understanding of why the French Revolution is still so important to the French, perhaps even more so than our own. Finally, her lectures on Napoleon were balanced and nuanced. Napoleon is treacherous territory for any historian, but she traversed it with skill and aplomb.

16 people found this helpful

Feels like you're there

This course combines big historic events and trends during the era of the French Revolution and through Napoleon's reign with the everyday lives of the people who lived during that time. We need more history courses like this.

15 people found this helpful