Summary Of The Family Romance Of The French Revolution

In The Family Romance of the French Revolution, Lynn Hunt examines the significance

of the family and politics in relation to the French Revolution. Looking at ideas of romance that

transferred over into family life, Hunt is able to investigate a shift in ideology that played a part

in precipitating the French Revolution. Lynn Hunt attempts to make an intervention in the

historical literature of the cultural history of the French Revolution.

Lynn Hunt is a historian of the French Revolution and Professor of History at University

of California at Los Angeles. More broadly, Hunt is interested in the changing of ideas and

political spheres in 18th century Europe. Lynn Hunt focuses heavily on the ramifications of print

media during

A significant theme that Lynn Hunt explores is representational culture. Specifically, how

the family and individual members of the family are depicted through the arts and literature in

the advent of the printing revolution. This is a broader theme explored throughout the

monograph. Representations of the fallen King, the Band of Brothers, and the Bad Mother

through the despised Marie Antoinette. While this is not the main theme of the book, it gives the

reader a good idea about the pervading political climate of 18th century France.

The representation of the father changed. The father was previously was depicted as stern

and overbearing. One might suggest that with the new growth of culture and society in France,

the “children” of France outgrew such tyrannical authority. Thus, with the new ideologies

shifting, The father became the “good father”, a figure that faded into the background where the

children took the forefront. The father was most recognizable as a friend and confidant.

With the death of the father, Louis XIV, brought in the French idea of fraternity.