The Unruly City: Paris, London and New York in the Age of Revolution

The Unruly City from Scottish history professor Mike Rapport recounts the story of the political and revolutionary unrest that took place in Western cities at the end of the 18th century. Here told are the stories of Paris, London, and New York in the years between 1763 and 1799, when social upheaval changed political regimes. The book tells the tales of these three cities in twelve chapters. Here presented is coverage of the American Revolution of 1776, The French Revolution (1789 – 1799), and struggles for democracy in England. One finds the inspiration and battles of many of our contemporary political organizations present in this.

Rapport, though, is also interested in how the very structure and spaces of these cities helped lead to the success of these revolutions. It is interesting to note that the fervor collected in public places and outdoor gathering places, as well as bars and coffee houses. This book, though, is a difficult read, with many references to people who are not remembered and places that no longer exist or have been changed. The reader needs to read closely to follow all these tales, but they are likely to view their homes and these cities in a deeper way because of it.