1. Annual of French Studies 2024. Т. 57: On the 150th anniversary of academician E. V. Tarle (2024)
2. Jean-Lambert Tallien: flesh and blood of the French Revolution (on the book by D. V. Zaytseva)

Jean-Lambert Tallien: flesh and blood of the French Revolution (on the book by D. V. Zaytseva)

Bovykin Dmitry

In her monograph “Jean-Lambert Tallien: the Unloved Son of the French Revolution” (Moscow, 2023), research fellow at the Institute of World History of the Russian Academy of Sciences and senior lecturer at the State Academic University for the Humanities Daria Zaytseva traces the life of Tallien, a member of the Commune of Paris in 1792, Jacobin and Montagnard who became famous for being the first to speak out against M. Robespierre on 9 Thermidor. Analyzing the various stages of his career and debunking Tallien’s “black legend”, D. Zaytseva comes to the conclusion that the hero of her research was in demand while the Revolution was going on, but he found himself out of place and died in complete poverty when “creators” were needed instead of “destroyers”. Without disputing D. Zaytseva’s conclusions, the author of the review suggests that Tallien was essentially a creation of the Revolution. It gave him everything: a position in society, respect, power. Without any profession, but with determination, courage and political views that were appropriate to the moment, he took his place among the political elite of France. Although he remains a very controversial figure in the eyes of posterity, he nevertheless entered history first and foremost as the man who put an end to the policy of Terror.

Keywords: France, French Revolution, Thermidor, National Convention, Napoleon, Tallien

Link: Bovykin D. Jean-Lambert Tallien: flesh and blood of the French Revolution (on the book by D. V. Zaytseva) // Annual of French Studies 2024. Т. 57: On the 150th anniversary of academician E. V. Tarle.М. P. 421-430.

References:

Бовыкин Д. Ю. Король без королевства. Людовик XVIII и французские роялисты в 1794–1799 гг. М., 2016.

Зайцева Д. В. Жан-Ламбер Тальен: нелюбимый сын Французской революции. СПб., 2023.

Манфред А. З. Великая Французская революция. М., 1983.

Манфред А. З. Три портрета эпохи Великой французской революции. М., 1989.

Barras P. Mémoires de Barras, membre de Directoire. Vol. 1. Paris, 1895.

Baudot M.-A. Notes historiques sur la Convention nationale, le Directoire, l'Empire et l'exil des votants. Paris, 1893.

Bianci S. Tallien Jean-Lambert // Dictionnaires des conventionnels. 1792-1795. Vol. 2. Ferney-Voltaire, 2022.

Buzot F.-N.-L. Mémoires de Buzot député à la Convention nationale. Paris, 1822.

Coquard O. Quand le monde a basculé. Nouvelle histoire de la Révolution française, 1789-1799. Paris, 2015.

Horn J. The making of a terrorist. Alexandre Rousselin and the Franch revolution. Oxford, 2021.

Houssaye A. Notre-Dame de Thermidor. Histoire de Madame Tallien. Paris, 1867.

Journal des débats politiques et littéraires. Vendredi, 17 novembre 1820.

Kuscinski A. Dictionnaire des conventionnels. Brueil-en-Vexin, Yvelines, 1973.

Le Moniteur universel. № 323. 1820. 18 novembre.

Lefranc E. Traité théorique et pratique de littérature: rédigé spécialement pour les communautés religieuses et les institutions des demoiselles. 7^ême éd. Bruxelles, 1849.

Lenotre G. La vieillesse de Tallien // Le Temps. № 13945. 1899. 12 août.

Pasquier É.-D. Mémoires du chancelier Pasquier : histoire de mon temps. 4^ème éd. Vol. 1. Paris, 1894 ; Vol. 2. Paris, 1893.

Taine H.-A. Les origines de la France contemporaine. 24^ème éd. Vol. 6.2. 7.1. Paris, 1901–1902.