What is it about?
This monograph revisits the question of the tense relationship between government and parlements in the 18th century by looking at L'Averdy, a member of the Parlement de Paris, who was appointed financier minister between 1763 and 1768, to sort out the debts of the country, and facilitate and appease tensions over reforms.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
This is an important book because it shows that politics did exist before 1789. It analyses the ways in which institutions and men were involved in permanent discussions and conflicts about how to reform the Absolute monarchy. The book tests political discourses and attitudes not for their own sake but in relation to the serious problems of that time and the discussions they generated.
Perspectives
I throroughly enjoyed writing that book which, for me, is the missing link that brings some rationale in the long debated issue about the conflicts between parlements and government, and, as such, the origins of the French Revolution.
Joel Felix
University of Reading
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Finances et politique au siècle des Lumières, January 1999, OpenEdition,
DOI: 10.4000/books.igpde.1982.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
