While neither Alexis De Tocqueville, nor Simon Schama, nor Jackson J. Spielvogel’s methodologies create a perfect history of the French Revolution, all provide essential insight into understanding the era. Each of these three historians write extensive volumes investigating the Revolution, yet they contain their own specific flaws and strengths. Literature shapes our historical understanding. A competent and tenacious author writes his history to his audience. Understanding his reader allows him to make his work not only informative, but interesting. As Jackson J. Spielvogel, author of Western Civilization: A Brief History, said of his textbook, “I sought to keep the story in history.” (Spielvogel, xxi) History truly exists as a collection
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Spielvogel’s book Western Civilization: A Brief History follows a strict and repetitive chronological order through history. He mentions in his preface, “Another one of my goals was to write a well-balanced work in which the political, economic, social, religious, intellectual, cultural, and military aspects of Western civilization would be integrated into a chronologically ordered synthesis.” (Spielvogel, xxi) While he brilliantly executes his goal, he misses the mark on the entertainment value. Rather than thinking of his audience, he focuses on writing a history textbook of quality. He holds an inclination to neither under-determinism nor over-determinism. This creates a relatively unbiased account of the French Revolution. Spielvogel incorporates people and ideas into his book. This presents the fullest history with the most aspects, different and alike, of the Revolution. His more modern approach also interests the reader. He explains in his preface, “Another boxed feature, Film & History, presents a brief analysis of a film’s plot as well as its historical significance, value, and accuracy.” (Spielvogel, xxi) This gives the reader other material to help them understand the actual history, making his work the best for a beginner student. Though at times difficult to stay concentrated on reading, he presents the most balanced work out of the three
Spielvogel’s book Western Civilization: A Brief History follows a strict and repetitive chronological order through history. He mentions in his preface, “Another one of my goals was to write a well-balanced work in which the political, economic, social, religious, intellectual, cultural, and military aspects of Western civilization would be integrated into a chronologically ordered synthesis.” (Spielvogel, xxi) While he brilliantly executes his goal, he misses the mark on the entertainment value. Rather than thinking of his audience, he focuses on writing a history textbook of quality. He holds an inclination to neither under-determinism nor over-determinism. This creates a relatively unbiased account of the French Revolution. Spielvogel incorporates people and ideas into his book. This presents the fullest history with the most aspects, different and alike, of the Revolution. His more modern approach also interests the reader. He explains in his preface, “Another boxed feature, Film & History, presents a brief analysis of a film’s plot as well as its historical significance, value, and accuracy.” (Spielvogel, xxi) This gives the reader other material to help them understand the actual history, making his work the best for a beginner student. Though at times difficult to stay concentrated on reading, he presents the most balanced work out of the three