Bernier, Olivier; Pierce Jr., Charles E.

Words of Blood, Images of Fire: The French Revolution

New York, NY: Pierpont Morgan Library, 1989. First Printing. Stapled Wrappers. “Words and images played a major role in the development of the French Revolution. Printed speeches, pamphlets, newspapers, political cartoons, engravings depicting recent events, all circulated widely and helped to shape the immediate future. These are the focus of the exhibition: Words of Blood, Images of Fire: The French Revolution. By showing what people saw, what they read, even occasionally what they thought and privately expressed in letters, this exhibition will help its visitors understand the world of the Revolution and its dynamics. It will take them behind the scenes as rare and important autographs allow them to understand the discrepancies between public positions and private plans, which helped to speed the course of the Revolution. As the secrets of major figures, from Marie Antoinette to Robespierre, are unveiled, the visitor will understand just why they behaved as they did” (from “Introduction,” pg. 6). Offered here is a slim, joyously educational ‘exhibition catalogue in-miniature’ (pamphlet, really) for Words of Blood, Images of Fire: The French Revolution,, an exhibition which took place at the prestigious Pierpont Morgan Library in New York from May 12-August 20, 1989. As Bruegel-&-Bosch -loving Burroughsians, We at TMB are particularly amused by the frenzied scheming, the ecstasies of avarice, and outright hilarious deaths here featured. Look how easy it used to be to dispose of a mistress! Ah! the bygone days of yore—and tribunals don’t stutter much, do they? Jokes aside, there is much to enjoy from a traditional historical perspective. For ex: the pamphlet does a fine job of reprinting, and critically addressing key excerpts from each of the original exhibition’s eight sections. Those sections, as listed here in the catalog, are as follows: [1] "Before the Revolution," which provides expositional information on pre-1789 France. [2] "From Estates General to National Assembly," which focused on the transitionary period of beginning to question the authority of the monarchy. [3] “Paris Takes Over,” which “explains how revolutionary forces in Paris became dominant.” [4]: “Fair Words, False Deeds,” which “evokes the discrepancies between public position and private belief on the part of some of the Revolution’s major figures. [5]: “The End of the Monarchy,” which looks at precisely that: an anatomy of crumbling [6]: “Triumph and Terror,” which is “devoted to the period which saw both the triumph of the republic at home and abroad, and the setting in of the Reign of Terror.” [7]: “A Free and Honest Press,” which “shows the birth and progress of a free, and often unprejudiced, press after the fall of the Bastille.” [8]: “Political Obscenity,” which “displays a small selection of the sexually satirical pamphlets that were among the most effective weapons of the anti-monarchists” (pp. 4-6). From the collection of Thomas Fitzsimmons (1926-2017), a noted American poet, academician & editor, which we have been honored to obtain from his son, Ian Fitzsimmons. Pamphlet in stapled wrappers: the first (& likely only printing) of this French Rev-focused collectible. In fine condition with only minute-to-moderate edge-wear, light bumping, & two lone instances of slightly more enunciated bump-creasing to fine-edges & corners of front, back covers & spine-edge; lastly, some scattered (almost invisible) surface nicks/scuffs present variously throughout—otherwise clean. Fine. [Item #6805]

Price: $25.00