In his famous
Reflections on the Revolution in France
Reflections on the Revolution in FranceReflections on the Revolution in France
(1790), Edmund Burke excoriated French revolutionary leaders for recklessly destroying France’s venerable institutions and way of life. But his war against the French intelligentsia did not end there, and Burke continued to take pen in hand against the Jacobins until his death in 1797.
This collection brings together for the first time in unabridged form Burke’s writings on the French Revolution that anticipate, refine, and summarize the works in his famous Reflections on the Revolution in FranceReflections on the Revolution in France. There are seven items in the collection. Included are “Letter to a Member of the National Assembly,” “Appeal from the New to the Old Whigs,” and “A Letter to a Noble Lord.” A foreword and headnotes to each selection point the reader to some of the key issues.
Daniel E. RitchieDaniel E. Ritchie is Professor of English Literature at Bethel College.
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Edmund Burke, was born in Dublin, January 12, educated at a Quaker boarding school and at Trinity College, Dublin. In 1750 he entered the Middle Temple, London, but soon abandoned law for literary work.
The best of Burke's writings and speeches belong to this period, and may be described as a defense of sound constitutional statesmanship against prevailing abuse and misgovernment. In 1788 he opened the trial of Warren Hastings by the speech which will always rank among the masterpieces of English eloquence.
Burke had vast knowledge of political affairs, a glowing imagination, passionate sympathies, and an inexhaustible wealth of powerful and cultured expression. However, his delivery was awkward and speeches which today captivate the reader only served to empty the benches of the House of Commons (some speeches were in excess of eight hours).
One of the foremost political thinkers of 18th century England, Burke died July 9, 1797, and was buried in a little church at Beaconsfield.
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