The Intoxication of the Revolution: The Secret History of Alcohol, 1789-1794 (French Edition) By Michel Craplet

Researching the root causes of the French Revolution remains a delicate exercise, as passions and interpretations vary greatly. With The Intoxication of the Revolution: Secret History of Alcohol, 1789-1794, , Michel Craplet, a recognized addiction specialist, dares to offer a new perspective by placing alcohol at the heart of revolutionary upheavals.

From the Storming of the Bastille to the September massacres, of thearrest of the King at Varennes to the fall of the monarchy during the capture of the Tuileries, heated debates in the Revolutionary clubs to the Republican banquets, without forgetting the Terror and the Wars of the Vendée, The author revisits the major episodes of 1789-1794, revealing the constant—and often hidden—presence of alcohol.

Under the Ancien Régime, alcoholic beverages, including ordinary wines, were rare and expensive. Only a minority could enjoy them regularly. Offering a drink became a genuine gift, endowed with strong symbolic and social significance. The book traces the circulation of these alcoholic gifts and their political and human consequences at the heart of the Revolution.

Far from any ideological stance, Michel Craplet accurately describes the pathological behaviors related to alcohol in all camps, sparing neither the aristocrats nor even Louis XVI. A captivating chapter is dedicated to him, detailing the King's triple addiction : excessive alcohol consumption, a devouring passion for hunting, and disorders related to sexuality.

Neither historical reductionism nor conspiracy theory: the author shows that if alcohol is never... the sole cause of events, it is often at fault, influencing behaviors, exacerbating tensions, and disrupting destinies.

This book is both a historical investigation and a Sociological reflection on the role of alcohol in times of crisis. Between revisited archives, surprising anecdotes and original analyses, it offers a fresh and stimulating perspective on the French Revolution, inviting reflection on the connections between addictions and major social transformations.

An essential read for enthusiasts ofstory, of French Revolution, of Sociology of alcohol and for all those who wish to discover an unknown but essential aspect of this foundational period.

Article features

• Author Michel Craplet

• Editor : Grasset

• Distributor : Hatchet

• Publication date : 02/17/2021

• EAN13 : 9782246821885

• Number of pages : 300 pages

• Format : Large format, paperback

• Dimensions : 20.5 × 14 × 2 cm

• Weight : 302 g

• Language : French