McPhee manages to give a nuanced view of M. Robespierre, one of the most misunderstood people in modern history, whilst also keeping his writing entertaining and easy to read. This is a great book for anyone interested in the French Revolution.

If you are interested in the French Revolution then you must be interested in a major character often bracketed with some of the most reviled people in history. This book presents the little that is known of Robespierre's early life and significant events from 1789 to 1794; leaving the reader to decide if the subject was a tyrant, a true revolutionary democrat, a scapegoat or something in between. A fascinating account that should lead to academic reappraisal of Maximilien Robespierre.