内容简介
ApowerfulnewtranslationofdeTocqueville'sinfluentiallookattheoriginsofmodernFranceInthispenetratingstudy,AlexisdeTocquevilleconsiderstheFrenchRevolutioninthecontextofFrance'shistory.deTocquevilleworriedthatalthoughtherevolutionaryspiritwasstillaliveandwell,libertywasnolongeritsprimaryobjective.JustasthefirstRepublichadfallentoNapoleonandthesecondhadsuccumbedtohisnephewNapoleonIII,hefearedthatallfuturerevolutionsmightexperiencethesamefate,foreverimperilingthedevelopmentofdemocracyinFrance.
作者简介
AlexisdeTocquevillewasbornin1805toanobleFrenchfamilythathadsurvivedtheFrenchRevolution.HisfathergainedsomepoliticalpowerunderthereignoftheBourbons,andaftertheJulyRevolutionof1830,thefamilywasexiledalongwiththeking.Tocqueville,thentwenty-fiveyearsold,stayedinFrance,swearingallegiancetothenewgovernment.Shortlythereafterheandafriend,GustavedeBeaumont,soughtandreceivedagovernmentassignmenttostudytheprisonsystemoftheUnitedStates.TheyarrivedinAmericain1831.Afterextensivetravelsacrosstheyoungnation,TocquevillewroteDemocracyinAmerica(publishedintwovolumesin1835and1840).ThepublicationofthefirstvolumemadeTocquevilleawell-knownfigure,butheledaquietlife,acceptingmodestgovernmentalposts,travelingaroundEurope,andmarryinganEnglishwoman.In1848,Tocquevilleonceagainrosetopoliticalprominenceafteraprescientspeechthatforetoldofrevolution.Afterservingthroughthemassiveupheavalsandoverthrowsofgovernment,Tocquevilleretiredfrompoliticallifein1849.Alwaysweakinhealth,hislungdiseasegrewprogressivelyworsefromthatperiodon.Movingsouthseveraltimesondoctor’srecommendations,Tocquevillesuccumbedtodeathin1859,inCannes.
