The Deaths of Louis XVI

The public execution of Louis XVI serves as a focal point in French history, representing contrasting interpretations across political spectrums. For Jacobins, it symbolized empowerment, while royalists viewed it as a grave sin. Dunn explores how this event shaped French intellectual discourse and political myth, revealing how both right and left thinkers condemned regicide and violence, ultimately fostering a humanitarian vision that laid the moral groundwork for modern France. The book delves into the enduring impact of this historical moment on collective memory and national identity.