Phantom Terror: The Threat of Revolution and the Repression of Liberty 1789-1848

摘要: A magnificent and timely examination of an age fear, subversion, suppression espionage, Adam Zamoyski explores the attempts governments Europe to police world in a struggle against obscure forces, seemingly dedicated overthrow civilisation. The French Revolution blood-curdling violence it engendered terrified ruling propertied classes Europe. Unable grasp how such horrors could have come about, many concluded that was result devilish conspiracy hatched by Freemasons inspired ideas Enlightenment with aim overthrowing entire social order, along legal religious principles stood on. Others traced back Reformation or Knights Templar ascribed even more sinister aims it. Faced this apparently occult threat, they resorted repression on unprecedented scale, expanding spy networks process. Napoleon managed contain revolutionary elements France those parts he controlled, but while welcomed this, others saw him no than spawn Revolution, propagating its doctrines other means. After his defeat at Waterloo 1815, victors united maintain old suppress all opposition, ferret out conspirators whom believed be plotting mayhem murder shadows. In ground-breaking study best-selling historian exposes their pusillanimous yet cynical recourse bayonet, which only intensified own fears pushed ordinary people towards building up pressure opposition rule. When came, revolutions 1848, dreaded cataclysm revealed been groundless; masses stirred into revolt hunger oppressive living conditions were leaderless easily pacified. There never had any conspiracy. But there stay, paradigm order threatened dark forces is also still us today. This compelling history, occasionally chilling often hilarious, tells modern state evolved through expansion organs control, holds urgent lessons for