Description
By John S. C. Abbott. Step into the turbulent world of nineteenth-century France in this vivid biography of revolution, monarchy, exile, and political transformation.
In History of Louis Philippe: King of the French, historian John S. C. Abbott recounts the dramatic life and reign of Louis Philippe I, the last monarch to rule France before the rise of the Second Republic. Combining political history, personal biography, and vivid storytelling, Abbott presents the remarkable story of a prince who survived revolution, exile, war, and political upheaval before ascending to the French throne during one of Europe’s most unstable eras.
Readers follow Louis Philippe from his youth amid the chaos of the French Revolution through years of wandering exile across Europe and America. The narrative traces his eventual return to France and his rise to power following the July Revolution of 1830, when he became the “Citizen King” ruling a constitutional monarchy during a period marked by political unrest, social change, and growing demands for reform.
Abbott vividly recreates the atmosphere of nineteenth-century Europe, bringing to life royal courts, revolutionary movements, diplomatic crises, and the struggles between monarchy and republicanism. Themes of power, ambition, reform, loyalty, and political survival run throughout the narrative, offering readers insight into the forces that shaped modern France.
Written in Abbott’s clear and engaging style, History of Louis Philippe transforms complex political events into a compelling historical drama filled with memorable personalities and dramatic turning points. More than a biography, it is a portrait of an age caught between revolution and monarchy.
This carefully restored reprint revives a fascinating historical classic for modern readers. Ideal for students, lovers of French history, and readers interested in nineteenth-century politics and European monarchy, it remains a captivating account of one of France’s most turbulent periods.
About the author: John S. C. Abbott (1805–1877) was an American historian, pastor, and writer. He and his brother, Jacob, were some of the most prolific popular history writers of their era, and together produced dozens of works for their New York City based Abbott’s Institute of Historical Biographies. Although trained as a theologian, John’s success as a writer—which closely matched that of his brother—meant that he devoted most of his life to the written word.
Contents
Chapter I: Origin of the House of Orleans
Chapter II: The Exile
Chapter III: Wanderings in the Old World and the New
Chapter IV: The Tomb and the Bridal
Chapter V: The Restoration
Chapter VI: The Death of Louis XVIII, and Reign of Charles X
Chapter VII: Charles X Dethroned
Chapter VIII: The Struggles of Diplomacy
Chapter IX: Louis Philippe’s Throne
Chapter X: The Adventures of the Duchess de Berri
Chapter XI: The Final Struggle
Chapter XII: The Throne Demolished
