Robert Darnton“Forbidden Best-Sellers of

Pre-Revolutionary France”

Leading American Cultural Historian specializing in 18th century France Harvard and Oxford Graduate and current Professor at Princeton University In 1999 he received the Légion d’Honneur, the highest award given by the French government, in recognition of his work.

Cultural-Literary Changes in Pre-Revolutionary France

1750 – Noticeable shift from “intensive” reading to “extensive” readings

Livres philosophiques, libelles, mauvais propos

“Forbidden Best-Sellers”

Darnton’s Argument

“Printed matter, in addition to other ‘media,’ played a decisive role in the rupture between the people and the monarchy, this enabling the French Revolution to take place”

Libelles during the reign of Louis XV Political libelles of 1787-1788

The Power of Literature

Public OpinionThe literary genre of libelles provided

a “running commentary of over two centuries of political history. It organized around a central theme with a single moral: The monarchy had degenerated into despotism.”

Monarchy lost its legitimacy

Discussion Questions

Chartier who wrote The Cultural Origins of the French Revolution, believes that the “desacralization” of the monarchy occurred before forbidden literature because the term “royal” was used in everyday terminology such as “cakes á la royale”. How does Darnton counteract this argument? Do you support Chartier or Darnton’s argument for the “desacralization” of the monarchy?

If a change in literary practice had not occured from “intensive” to “extensive” can it be said that the French Revolution could have been avoided? To what extent does Darnton explain that “Forbidden Best-Sellers” had permeated French society?