This is a short introduction to the French Revolution which covers social, economical and cultural aspects, as well as examining more recent intellectual and political analyses. Taking a broad approach, the author presents a serious interpretive essay, reviewing recent debates and reassessing the nature and impact of the events of 1798. The variety of historical interpretations, as well as the range of contexts in which the Revolution has been set are reviewed. The events and their interpretations are presented, with the conclusion explicating various `orthodox' and more recent `revisionist' approaches, providing readers with an intelligent resume to the Revolution and its historians.