Paul Hanson is Professor of History at Butler University in Indianapolis. He has taught courses on French history, European history, and Chinese history, and has published numerous books and articles examining the French Revolution, including The Jacobin Republic under Fire, Provincial Politics in the French Revolution and Historical Dictionary of the French Revolution.
Contesting the French Revolution provides an invaluable account of recent thinking on the history and politics of the French Revolution. Hanson does not 'take sides', but by explaining what underlies the debates, and why historians have found the politics of the Revolution so important and yet so contentious, he makes it possible for students to make up their own minds. This is the best kind of teaching. Above all, he shows why the French Revolution still matters. The written style is beautifully expressed, elegant and lucid. Marisa Linton, Kingston University Paul Hanson breathes new life into the events and ideas of the French Revolution and makes clear their relevance to topics of contemporary concern. His balanced and sensitive approach to issues such as state-sponsored and popular violence, as well as what he terms 'routine violence', will be appreciated by both scholars and students alike. Hanson's engaging and accessible writing makes the book ideal for use in the classroom. Denise Davidson, Georgia State University