Evening in the Palace of Reason

Synopsis

In one corner, a godless young warrior, Voltaire's heralded 'philosopher-king', the It Boy of the Enlightenment. In the other, a devout if bad-tempered old composer of 'outdated' music, a scorned genius in his last years. The sparks from their brief conflict illuminate a turbulent age.

Behind the pomp and flash, Prussia's Frederick the Great was a tormented man, son of an abusive king who forced him to watch as his best friend (probably his lover) was beheaded. In what may have been one of history's crueler practical jokes, Frederick challenged 'old Bach' to a musical duel, asking him to improvise a six-part fugue based on an impossibly intricate theme (possibly devised for him by Bach's own son).

Bach left the court fuming, but in a fever of composition, he used the coded, alchemical language of counterpoint to write 'A Musical Offering' in response. A stirring declaration of faith, it represented 'as stark a rebuke of his beliefs and world view as an absolute monarch has ever received,' Gaines writes. It is also one of the great works of art in the history of music.

Set at the tipping point between the ancient and the modern world, the triumphant story of Bach's victory expands to take in the tumult of the eighteenth century: the legacy of the Reformation, wars and conquest, the birth of the Enlightenment. Brimming with originality and wit, 'Evening in the Palace of Reason' is history of the best kind - intimate in scale and broad in its vision.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Puzzle of the First French Republic

This chapter introduces the French Revolution and the establishment of the First French Republic in 1792. It discusses the intellectual debates and political struggles that shaped the republic's early years, including the conflict between moderate republicans (the Girondins) and radical revolutionaries (the Jacobins).

Example: The Girondins believed in a limited republic with a representative government, while the Jacobins advocated for a complete overhaul of French society, including the execution of King Louis XVI.

Chapter 2: The Rise of Robespierre

This chapter focuses on the rise to power of Maximilien Robespierre, a radical Jacobin who became one of the most influential figures of the revolution. It explores the political tactics he employed to eliminate his rivals and establish a dictatorship known as the Reign of Terror.

Example: Robespierre used the Committee of Public Safety, a revolutionary tribunal, to purge his opponents and consolidate his power.

Chapter 3: The Reign of Terror

This chapter describes the period from September 1793 to July 1794, when Robespierre's Reign of Terror reached its height. It discusses the массовые казни and other atrocities committed by the Jacobin government, as well as the growing opposition to Robespierre's tyranny.

Example: Over 17,000 people were executed during the Reign of Terror, including Marie Antoinette, the former queen of France.

Chapter 4: The Thermidorian Reaction

This chapter examines the events leading up to the overthrow of Robespierre and the establishment of a more moderate government in 1794. It describes the political maneuvering and popular uprisings that brought about the Thermidorian Reaction, which ended the Reign of Terror.

Example: A coalition of moderates, including members of the Girondins and Jacobins, turned against Robespierre and arrested him on 9 Thermidor (July 27, 1794).

Chapter 5: The Republic in Crisis

This chapter discusses the challenges and crises facing the republic after the Reign of Terror. It explores the economic turmoil, political instability, and foreign threats that threatened the republic's survival.

Example: The French economy was ravaged by inflation and war, while royalist and foreign armies threatened the republic's existence.

Chapter 6: The Rise of Napoleon

This chapter examines the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte, a young general who emerged from the chaos of the republic and eventually became its emperor. It discusses Napoleon's military campaigns, his political reforms, and his impact on French society.

Example: Napoleon's victories in Italy and Egypt propelled him to fame, and he later seized power in a coup d'état in 1799.

Chapter 7: The Napoleonic Empire

This chapter explores the Napoleonic Empire, which lasted from 1804 to 1814. It discusses Napoleon's reforms, his military conquests, and the impact of his empire on Europe.

Example: Napoleon codified French law (the Napoleonic Code), established a central bank, and promoted education and the arts.

Chapter 8: The Fall of Napoleon

This chapter examines the events leading up to Napoleon's downfall. It discusses the failed invasion of Russia, the rise of European coalitions against France, and Napoleon's final defeat at Waterloo.

Example: Napoleon's disastrous Russian campaign in 1812 weakened his army and paved the way for his overthrow.