A Social and Cultural History of Early Modern France

This is an excellent multi-layered approach to understanding French society as it evolved in the centuries leading to the events of the French Revolution. Each chapter opens with a brief introduction on the topic at hand i.e. Rural communities, Peasant life, Domination by the nobility, City Life and city people, etc. and closes with a conclusion. If you are pressed for time, it may due just to read these two parts to get an understanding of Prof. Beik's analysis and final argument. But you will want to read every word or every chapter as Beik brings this world alive with colorful examples of power relationships, events that brought men (and especially women) into the streets, and the minutes descriptions of how French culture and society slowly evolved making the FR almost the logic outcome.