The Revolutionary Self

Social Change and the Emergence of the Modern Individual 1770-1800

Author  Lynn Hunt
The Revolutionary Self

An illuminating exploration of the tensions between self and society in the age of revolutions.

Since the eighteenth century, one of the defining concerns of modern life has been the tension between the self and society: we believe in a person’s autonomy, but we also acknowledge that people are shaped by social and cultural forces. The Revolutionary Self delves into this paradox, turning to the eighteenth century as an era when new ideas about the self, society, and equality gained traction and new ways of living emerged.

Lynn Hunt, the eminent historian of the French Revolution, traces the rise of individualism and how it transformed attitudes. In this thoughtful and surprising history, she examines women’s expanding societal roles, such as using tea…

$47.00
February 18, 2025
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