In this episode, historian Robert Darnton, Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor and former Director of the University Library at Harvard, discusses his insights on the French Revolution, focusing on the concept of ‘revolutionary temper’—the collective mindset that preceded the revolution.
He explores the flow of information in pre-revolutionary Paris, the role of public sentiment, and how gossip and theatricality influenced political awareness.
Darnton draws parallels between historical events and contemporary political climates, emphasising the importance of studying the French Revolution to understand the dynamics of societal change and the nature of revolutions.
