Twilight of the Old Order, 1774-1778

A fascinating man in his own right, Claude Manceron attempted to capture the French Revolutionary era through weaving the various threads of 200 or so biographies into an epic tapestry. While he did not survive to complete the work, Manceron's history remains an impressive achievement. The first volume takes the reader all over Europe and the Americas. Manceron recreates the deaths of Louis XV and Clement XIV, presents Lafayette sailing towards America and offers unforgettable pictures of Diderot leaving Russia, Marie Antoinette meeting Axel von Fersen, Maurepas returning to power after being exiled for decades. It is a fascinating gallop through a series of great events and is the most vivid history I have ever come across. While not the most scholarly of works, Manceron presents history like it was a soap opera-and you will keep on wanting to tune in to see what happens in the next episode.