After several decades of apparent consensus in the 1960s, the origins of the French Revolution became an area for disagreement and controversy among historians. During these disputes, many previously accepted ideas were called into question, but the contributions to the debate were scattered and often difficult to find. The first edition of this book, published in 1980, attempted to take stock of twenty years of debate, describe its evolution, and construct a new account of the Revolution's origins, incorporating the findings of the most recent discussion and research. This revised edition draws on the work which has appeared since, and whilst the broad lines of interpretation remain the same, a number of important points have been amended or reappraised in the light of continuing research. The initial chapter traces the course of scholarly controversies between 1939 and the present day; the rest of the book analyzes the ancien regime and the struggle for power which followed its disappearance, as revealed by the most recent findings of French, British and American scholars. Professor Doyle is also author of The old European order 1660-1800.