The Politics of Privilege: Old Regime and Revolution in Lille

“This is an impressive, well-researched, and well-argued study that will force us, or allow us, to reevaluate our understanding of the collapse of corporate privilege during the revolution.” American Historical Review

“Heavily based on archival sources, this fascinating and sphisticated study will interest all students of the Revolution.” D.C. Baxter, Choice

“This is one of the most important books to appear for some years on the spirit (in Montesque’s sense) of the Old Regime and how it collapsed into Revolution.” William Doyle, Times Literary Supplement

“Gail Bossenga’s penetrating examination of politics in Lille, France, offers the reader a unique insight into the eighteenth century world of urban privilege.” History

“Bossenga greatly advances our understanding of the origins of the French Revolution by providing a sophisticated analysis of the relationship between the royal government and privileged corporate bodies in the town of Lille.” Steven G. Reinhardt, Journal of Interdisciplinary History

“…the range of subjects in addition to the real depth of knowledge displayed makes her study immensely revelatory….Bossenga’s impressive arguments give far more enphasis to fiscality; they force scholars to pay serious attention to these matters in any reconsideration of the revolution.” Jack R. Censer, Journal of Modern History

“Bossenga illuminates the essential nature of the 1789 Revolution as a vital stage in the growth of the power of the state. Her basic thesis is that the revolution was essentially about institutional and not social change. The complexities of the relationship between the central government and the provinces are brilliantly dissected in seminal and minutely traced case studies of significant corporate bodies in Lille.” Pamela M. Pilbeam, Journal of Urban History