The United States of America was born. Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, who had covertly aided the American Revolution, had long recovered his civil rights. And in the France of the 1780s, the theater had become not only a center of major entertainment but also a political weapon, reaching all classes of Frenchmen. In addition to […]
Beaumarchais, the Man Between Revolutions by Miguel A. Faria, MD Read More »
Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732–1799) was a man of many talents, whose life provides an interesting pivotal transitional point from the American Revolution on one side of the Atlantic Ocean to the French Revolution on the other. Born to a Parisian watchmaker, the young Caron initially followed in his father’s trade. At age 21, he
Beaumarchais and the American Revolution by Miguel A. Faria, MD Read More »
On July 13, 1793, a young woman and a Girondin sympathizer, Charlotte Corday, walked bravely into 30 Rue des Cordeliers and assassinated the radical and bloodthirsty Jean-Paul Marat. The radical journalist and deputy had forced the expulsion of the Girondin leaders from the National Convention and was finalizing his plans for their subsequent trip to
The Assassination of Marat, the Girondins, and the Terror by Miguel A. Faria, MD Read More »
Maximilien Robespierre attended the prestigious Lycée Louis-le-Grand in Paris when he was eleven years old. He apparently was “a model student” and excelled in his scholastic studies, particularly Latin. His fellow classmates referred to him as “The Roman,” because of his excellent pronunciation of Latin words and phrases. In 1775, he was chosen to “deliver
As monarchs go, Louis XVI of France wasn’t such a bad guy. He was a devout Christian who wanted to better his subjects’ lives by abolishing torture and involuntary servitude, granting “liberty of conscience” to Protestants, improving conditions in prisons and hospitals, and arguing against warrants that allowed for imprisonment without trial, among other reforms.
Another much needed, incredible book by Dr. Miguel A. Faria—Contrasting Ideals and Ends in the American and French Revolutions (December 2024)—has been published. I not only enjoy reading Dr. Faria’s books for pleasure, but I always learn a great deal.[1-6] His latest book is no exception. I have always told people that to understand our
