#History Revolutionary Spring 1848-1849
- Christopher Clark, (Sydney Australia, 1960)
- is Regius Professor of History at the University of Cambridge.
- He was knighted in 2015.
- Australia should be so proud of this brilliant scholar!
- #AusReadingMonth23
- Listed as one of the BEST books of 2023 by The Economist
Finish: 12.12.2023
Title: Revolutionary Spring 1848-1849
Genre: non-fiction (882 pg)
Rating: A+++++
Good news: I won’t lie to you…this book was a real challenge to finish. My mind was spinning with all the details of names and places. Never give up when you are reading a book by a Cambridge University professor of history. It felt like a privilege to be sitting in one of his many lectures about a tipping point in modern history.
Bad news: I’m exhausted. I knew I needed help reading this book and combined the audio version while reading it on Kindle. There were times when I “missed” some sections b/c I fell asleep. I just had to re-read and get back on my horse and …immediately confront a failure and try again.
Good news: I never realized there was so much political unrest is so many European cities…at the same time! Revolutions spontaneously broke out all over Europe in 1848. People’s grievances went in all directions, from poverty and political impotence to curbing freedom of the press.
Good news: I wondered why was there was NO revolution in The Netherlands? I seems the Dutch are very pragmatic. They successfully absorbed and translated the crisis. Thanks to our politian, Johan Thorbecke (…you probably never heard of him) the Dutch constitution (grondwet) was adjusted to embrace a parlimentary from of government that we still have today. As a Dutch envoy in Brussels wisely remarked: “…it is better to pre-empt that be pre-empted.” (pg 334)
Last thoughts: This book is a #MustRead for all the history buffs! 882 pages is a lot to digest and you have to be committed to finishing this book…even if it takes you weeks or months to read. I’m adding some of my notes I made on Goodreads…just to give you an idea what I was going through!
NOTES:
October 15, 2023 –
1.72% “Just read the introduction and am impressed by Clark’s writing style and expansive vocabulary. It wakes you when this Prof of History of Cambridge University links fake news to the revolutions of 1848!
The French Revolution in 1789 was “…but a flash of light in the darkness”
The revolutions of 1848 …its twin had every mark of brilliant radiace.”
Prediction: this book will win Baillie Gifford Prize for NF 2023!!” UPDATE: 13.12.2023 – Fire Weather by John Valliant won the Baillie Gifford Prize for non-fiction 2023. That must be quite a book if it can “top” Revolutionary Spring! Puting Valliant’s book on my TBR
October 21, 2023 –
19.36%“After 3 chapters that feel like firehouse of information…the core message begins to arise: all is in motion. Identity and commitment become enmeshed. Our OWN age feels the same. This is the fascination of those decades Clark is about to discuss…starting with 1848.”
November 18, 2023 –
34.36% “Chapter 4…feels unending. I have to stop halfway b/c I’m falling asleep.
Metternich said he was “…always a rock of order”
….but he never managed to shake off the past when
…designing the future.”
December 9, 2023 –
39.4% “Re-read chapter 4 b/c to refresh my mind after weeks of
not reading this book. Now up-to-date with the 1848 uprisings in Vienna, Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels, Palermo and Milan.
Starting ch 5 (pg 344/873)”
December 9, 2023 –
46.85% “Ch 6 takes u through the “day after” of several 1848 revolution as
many ask the question: “Now what?”
Constituions are not most people’s idea of lively bedside reading. But the constitutions of 1848 were much less boring than on might think,
Happy that the Dutch “grondwet” was so well written with the guidance of Thorbecke!”
December 10, 2023 –
53.84% “Chapter 6 was just amazing. History that I never was taught in school.
Revolutionary Spring 1848 triggered a wave of
emancipation of women, slaved Africans, gypsy slaves and Jews.
The doors were opened for liberty by 1848 events
…but it would take years before emancipation was really accepted by society.”
December 11, 2023 –
59.68% “Ch 7: Nationalism is intoxicating. If politians sent more time
listeing to, rather than preaching to people who worked the land, for example “flyover country USA” …they will pay the price in elections,
It happened in 1848…revolution…it can happen again!”
December 12, 2023 –
60.71% “Attempted to finish ch 7…but fell asleep listening
to the audio book. Now I have to re-read it.
More barricades, unemployment and what is this
“Schleswig-Holstein” question? Need some help
from wikipedia before re-read. Counter-revolutions are starting…oh, dear!”
NancyElin.blog 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Hoping you and your family have a very Merry Christmas.
2024 will be a great year for all!
A grand effort! Well done.
Claire, this year’s 3 month break from blogging (June-August) really did help my reading. Sometimes one just has to relax…and come back stronger. I was able to kickstart my French reading after 6 months…complete shortlist for Australian ‘Australian Political Book of the Year’ …and tackle “Revolutionary Spring (..a whopping 882 pages!) Thanks for your comment!
I can’t believe your ability to persevere, well I can, I should say I continuously admire your ability to take on a literary challenge! Bravo. I read more books this year than ever despite a 3 month break from reading and blogging, I think it may be due to the proliferation of novellas and perhaps turning inward after being around so many visitors during those 3 months. In my case it was probably a case of the reaction to literary deprivation, to forgo oneself in books and reject all other forms of escape. 🤣🥰
Thanks for the “bravo” !
A huge AusReading effort again this year – thanks Nancy. I confess I have not heard of Christopher Clark before, but I see that he has spent most of his adult life in Europe.
No matter where one lives….there always the connection with “home”.
(I still celebrate Thanksgiving in NL!)
I”m sure C. Clark enjoys a good BBQ with a cold Foster’s beer even in “…Englands green & pleasant land.” (William Blake)
Oh, I do want to read this. I read his book on the origins of WWI (Sleepwalkers) a few years ago and thought it was very good.
Reese, the book is enlightening even though C. Clark at times can be verbose. Just skim when needed. This is not a bedtime read so taking a chapter (very long ones…) at a time is advised. Love the conclusions made by the author comparing it to our times in 21st C!