We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
Archibald Alison (1792–1867) was a Scottish historian with a particular interest in the French Revolution. He wrote from a deeply conservative standpoint and was a fierce opponent of the 1832 Reform Act. Although mocked by Disraeli in Coningsby as 'Mr Wordy', he wrote works which became bestsellers in the nineteenth century. This ten-volume History of Europe during the French Revolution, published between 1833 and 1842, regarded the French Revolution as the origin of all that was wrong with modern Europe. Alison feared that while Britain had escaped revolution in 1789, democratic reform could still lead to anarchy, as in the French July Revolution of 1830. Although criticised by Acton and J. S. Mill for his methodology, Alison has more recently been studied by scholars for insights into nineteenth-century historiography. Volume 9 covers the period from the retreat from Russia to the end of 1813.
Loading metrics...
* Views captured on Cambridge Core between #date#. This data will be updated every 24 hours.
Usage data cannot currently be displayed.
