Sintesi dell'editore
This famous treatise began as a letter to a young French friend who asked Edmund Burke’s opinion on whether France’s new ruling class would succeed in creating a better order. Doubtless the friend expected a favorable reply, but Burke was suspicious of certain tendencies of the Revolution from the start and perceived that the revolutionaries were actually subverting the true "social order". As a Christian - he was not a man of the Enlightenment - Burke knew religion to be man’s greatest good and established order to be a fundamental pillar of civilization.
Blending history with principle and graceful imagery with profound practical maxims, this book is one of the most influential political treatises in the history of the world. Said Russell Kirk, "The Reflections must be read by anyone who wishes to understand the great controversies of modern politics."
Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797) became a member of Parliament in 1765. He championed the unpopular cause of Catholic emancipation and a great part of his career became dedicated to the problem of India. The French Revolution prompted one of his best-known works, Reflections on the Revolution in France.
Altri titoli dello stesso
Cosa pensano gli ascoltatori di Reflections on the Revolution in France
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- CMC
- 30/08/2014
A good historical perspective
What made the experience of listening to Reflections on the Revolution in France the most enjoyable?
In our times, we have developed a way of thinking about the past that is unique to ourselves and our time. As I listen to Edmund Burke's ideas and words, one gains an insight of how people thought about the events in France in that time.
One also gains a perspective of how a person thinks about the times as he sees the problems develop after a revolution. We have seen issues like this when one fights and wins a war, but does not know how to win the peace. We have recently seen revolutions that do not know how to build a new government.
Edmund Burke's book helps us know we humans have not progressed much in our thinking in over 200 years. We are still the same set of creatures as then. It is good to review such histories and momentous occasions. We have more technical solutions, but we have no solutions for the hearts and minds of populations.
The story is well read. The perspective can make you angry at times or sad at times. This is what a good book should do. I hope you enjoy it as well.
11 people found this helpful
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Generale4 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- Richard M. Bendix, Jr.
- 05/04/2019
A Timely Classic
Burke’s Reflections are a cautionary reminder of how revolutions devour their children and, with the exception of the American Revolution, lead to tyranny worse than the governments than the governments that revolutionaries overthrew. My only criticism of this audible book is the failure of the producers to provide translations of the extended passages in Latin and French.
3 people found this helpful
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- James L.
- 04/07/2020
Relevant 200+ years later
Fascinating response to French Revolution, frol philosophical to economics. A little heavy in French and Latin at some parts, along with economic data from the day, but otherwise accessible.
2 people found this helpful
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- oatmeal
- 29/04/2020
Brilliant book
Much has been written about why this book is great. It is the founding text of Anglo-American conservativism and correctly predicted the rise of Napoleon. There are some brilliant insights in the book and it can even be quite funny (I think the voice actor really helped with that). Some of it is very in-the-weeds about 18th century policy or regnal chronology or economics, but that’s what it was meant to be and do. My one complaint is that there is a lot of French and Latin quotes in the book, none of which are translated for the 21st century English-speaking listener.
2 people found this helpful
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura3 out of 5 stars
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Storia4 out of 5 stars
- Jessica
- 17/12/2019
Great book - but why no Irish reader???
Seriously guys! Edmund Burke was one of the most famous native Gaelic speaking Irishmen ever. His flamboyant Brogue and his red-headed temper were both notorious. So why would you hire a bored upper class sounding English dude to record this book?
2 people found this helpful
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- No to Statism
- 23/07/2018
A Conservative's Conservative
I am a Christian libertarian, but before that I was a conservative. This audiobook was not in any direct way helpful to me. Indirectly however, it was of historical significance. Mr. Burke covered a number events of the French revolution which I was not fully aware, and this he did from a English (British) perspective. Additionally, I found it quite profound that this "book", was actually intended to be merely a letter. Bernard Mayes did an exceptional job as the reader of this audiobook!
2 people found this helpful
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Generale4 out of 5 stars
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Lettura4 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- Andrew Stine
- 29/03/2019
I don't speak French
Reflections is one of those classics of political philosophy which two centuries later, is still as relevant as it was when it was written. Of course, if you're considering listening to this, you already know that. I like a lot of things about this narration; the reader interests a lot of the good humor that would otherwise be lost if you were reading this off of the page. My one big complaint is that none of the passages in Latin or French are translated. I speak neither language so this presents a bit of a problem for me. If the narrator didn't speak French either, I understand, but he could have just skipped those parts and saved us the time. If he doesn't understand French well enough to translate it, I doubt his pronunciation is good enough for people who do speak it to understand him. But that just may be my presumption.
1 person found this helpful
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- Todd
- 07/02/2018
Excellent contemporary observations
Thoughtful commentary. The author compares the British revolutions (not U.S.) with the French revolution. A revolution can respect the law. Or, a revolution can have mob rule.o
1 person found this helpful
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Generale2 out of 5 stars
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Lettura1 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- GiBblet
- 24/10/2020
A excellent work, undermined by audio
Absolutely terrible audio quality, like out of range AM radio. It sounds like an older recording thrown on Audible for a quick buck and completely undermines Burke's work. Worse, the audio sample before buying is the clearest part of the whole book, so it isn't a useful representation.
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- "orthodoxreader"
- 17/10/2020
important political science piece
great reader. masterful writing. intellectually stimulating. well worth your time to listen. antidote to current sloppy thinking.
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- Alan Michael Forrester
- 08/07/2013
Great book and reading
Edmund Burke was an 18th century politician and philosopher and his most famous book is "Reflections on the Revolution in France". While many of the politicians and philosophers around Burke praised the French revolution, Burke condemned it in this book. The French revolutionaries were largely composed of people who had abstract ideas about the way people ought to behave that they were willing to impose by force and destroy the rule of law in the process. The regime they were throwing out was not tyrannical, rather the king was willing to make reforms. Burke was largely correct in his assessment and makes this argument at great length with great eloquence. Burke was condemned as a reactionary by many despite the fact that he had helped to bring about many liberal reforms and pursued the impeachement of Warren Hastings, the tyrranical head of the East India company. Apparently being willing to sanction violence and the destruction of the rule of law is required to be an enlightened political thinker. It is worth your while to listen to the book if you are interested in political philosophy or the French revolution.
Bernard Mayes reads the book clearly and with good emphasis.
7 people found this helpful
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Generale4 out of 5 stars
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Lettura1 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 14/12/2018
Profitably balances the Rights of Man
An important read for any English-person - whatever their race, and for anyone wishing to consider the balances between personal liberty and responsibilities, and institutional evolution and revolution. By reflecting on the first French Revolution, the book provides practical objection to, and balances the ideas of, The Rights of Man. The listen is spoilt by the narrator's inappropriate, overly pompous, narrative style (he likely is not using his natural style) at least his diction is clear.
1 person found this helpful
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Generale5 out of 5 stars
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Lettura5 out of 5 stars
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Storia5 out of 5 stars
- Laura330
- 03/08/2018
The wisdom of experience vs the arrogance of youth
Honour thy father and mother; you are not as clever as you think you are!