New Books Network Dan Edelstein, "The Revolution to Come: A History of an Idea from Thucydides to Lenin" (Princeton UP, 2025)
Dec 10, 2025
Dan Edelstein, a Stanford professor known for his expertise in French political thought, delves into his book about the evolution of revolutionary ideas. He discusses how classical philosophers viewed revolutions as catastrophic, preferring stability. The Enlightenment shifted this perspective, framing revolutions as essential for progress. Edelstein examines modern revolutions, highlighting their tendency to breed violence and division. He poses critical questions about the United States' resilience to upheaval and calls for a rethinking of expectations around political stability and compromise.
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From Literature To Revolution History
- Dan Edelstein started as a French literature scholar and moved into studying the French Revolution.
- His first book on the Terror sparked a long engagement that led to this broader intellectual history.
Revolution As Classical Catastrophe
- Classical political thought treated revolution as catastrophic chaos rather than progress.
- That view tied to cyclical history made constitutions tools to prevent change, not enable it.
Anglo-American Constitutional Continuity
- 17th–18th century British revolutions emphasized restoring or preserving a constitution.
- The American Constitution borrowed that balanced-constitution model more than creators often admit.
