This **** book follows the story of the Second French Republic from its idealistic beginnings in February 1848 to its formal replacement in December 1852 by the Second Empire. Based on original archival research, The Second French Republic gives a detailed account of the internal tensions that irrevocably weakened France's shortest republic. During this short period French political life was buffeted by strong and often contrary forces: universal manhood suffrage, fear of socialism, the President Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, and the political ambitions of the military high command for the restoration of the monarchy.

This work stands up as a valuable and exhaustively researched addition to the history of the Second Republic. It sheds new light on the thoughts and motivations of conservatives at the heart of the regime and is a great addition and corrective to existing texts that tend to focus on republican and socialist personalities, experiences and opinions. (W. Jack Rhoden, French History, Vol. 31 (4), December, 2017)

Guyver provides an excellent, comprehensive, updated account that clearly reflects decades of Second Republic immersion. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and faculty. (R. J. Goldstein, Choice, Vol. 54 (10), June, 2017)

Autorentext
Christopher Guyver has taught at the Universities of Oxford, Warwick, Sussex, and Bradford, UK. This is his first book.

Inhalt

• Introduction.-Chapter 1 The Limited World of the Constitutional Monarchy.- Chapter 2 February.- Chapter 3 The Fifteenth of May and the June Days.- Chapter 4 Cavaignac's Republic.- Chapter 5 Barrot's Ministries.- Chapter 6 The Ministry of the Office Boys.- Chapter 7 Path to the Coup.- Epilogue and Conclusion.- Biographical Appendix.