Jean-Paul Marat : prophet of terror / Keith Michael Baker.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Baker, Keith Michael, Author.

Series:

Life of ideas http://id.loc.gov/resources/hubs/25d261b8-320b-df3b-3012-74c14a88d581

The life of ideas

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Marat, Jean Paul, 1743-1793.

Marat, Jean Paul.

France--History--Revolution, 1789-1799--Biography.

France.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

930 pages : illustrations, portraits ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Chicago ; London : The University of Chicago Press, 2025.

Summary:

"In this monumental work, influential historian Keith Michael Baker takes readers on a journey through the life of Jean-Paul Marat (1743-1793). Starting with Marat's family and upbringing, Baker then sheds light into Marat's early years in England, his career as an aspiring scientist (including his writings on fire, light, and electricity), his gradual transformation from pamphleteer to revolutionary newspaperman, and, finally, his murder and martyrdom. Throughout, Baker offers readers the unique opportunity to reconsider the lead-up and development of the French Revolution through Marat's eyes and in his words. To help make sense of Marat's trajectory, Baker focuses on his subject's lifelong distrust of representation, from the political realm to the scientific and back again. Just as Marat railed against the abstract representation of natural forces in scientific discourse, so, too, in his political thought, he preferred direct embodiment. The Revolution, with its debates between sovereignty represented (in national assemblies) and sovereignty embodied (in the people) provided the perfect occasion for Marat's escalating rhetoric of denunciation and purge. Baker shows how Marat's incendiary public calls to render unseen forces visible, for immediacy in an increasingly abstract modern world, would transform classical republicanism into the language of the Terror"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction

The Swiss family Mara

"A little man...a quick eye". On the move ; Making it in London ; Locating the soul ; Wilkes and liberty ; The chains of slavery ; Doctor to the incurable

Agonistic science. Big game ; A new Newton? ; Following Franklin ; The fight for glory ; Destination Madrid?

Thymotic politics. Revolutionary rebirth ; The people's eye ; Enemies of the people ; How many heads? ; Remember Nancy ; Mobilizing the people ; Salus populi ; Repression, revision, despair

The first modern populist. A machine that would not work ; The people's revolution ; The monster and the mountain ; To kill a king? ; A party of one ; The Marat movement ; Purge

Conclusion: A revolutionary diptych.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [841]-896) and index.

Local Notes:

Binding: Includes dust-jacket.

ISBN:

9780226820927

0226820920

OCLC:

1502687529