Ruth Scurr, a historian at Cambridge, is renowned for her biographies of Robespierre and John Aubrey. She shares insights into the intricate art of biography, emphasizing the need for resonance over a mere chronological approach. Scurr discusses her latest work on Napoleon, framed through his gardens—revealing unexpected dimensions of his life. The conversation touches on Danton's role in the French Revolution, the significance of gender in Enlightenment thought, and why Cambridge trumps Oxford as a student hub.
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insights INSIGHT
Danton: Hero of the Revolution
Danton is the French Revolution's hero because he admitted his errors.
He accepted responsibility for establishing the revolutionary tribunal and sought forgiveness.
insights INSIGHT
Liberal Revolution Counterfactual
A quicker establishment of stable institutions might have led to a successful liberal French Revolution.
The struggle to design these institutions created an opening for chaos.
insights INSIGHT
Robespierre's Rise
Robespierre's rise to power was short-lived and partially due to luck and timing.
His ascendancy during the French Revolution was always insecure.
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Published in 1759, 'The Theory of Moral Sentiments' is Adam Smith's first major published work, based on his lectures at Glasgow University. The book argues that morality is driven by humanity's natural sociability and the need for approval from peers, rather than by rational calculation or innate moral sense. Smith introduces key concepts such as sympathy, the impartial spectator, and the invisible hand, which explain how individuals judge the conduct and character of themselves and others. The work delves into the emotional and social aspects of human behavior, highlighting the role of emotions like pity and compassion in shaping moral sentiments and behaviors[1][3][4].
Wuthering Heights
Emily Brontë
Published in 1847, 'Wuthering Heights' is a novel that tells the story of the tumultuous relationship between Catherine Earnshaw and the foundling Heathcliff, whom her father brings home to Wuthering Heights. The narrative, framed by the visitor Lockwood and the housekeeper Nelly Dean, explores themes of love, revenge, and the cyclical nature of life. Heathcliff's bitter vengeance against those who wronged him drives the plot, which spans generations and delves into the dark, passionate, and often destructive aspects of human nature. The novel is renowned for its dramatic and poetic presentation, its unique structure, and its vivid depiction of the Yorkshire moors as a reflection of the characters' inner lives.
The Laws of the Spirit World
Khorshed Bhavnagri
The book explores the concept of seven realms in the spirit world, ranging from what is akin to hell (realms 1-3) to heaven (realms 5-7). It discusses topics such as karma, rebirth, free will, and the nature of good and evil. The author, inspired by messages from her sons who died in a car accident, uses automatic writing to convey the spiritual laws and guide readers on how to lead a spiritual life on Earth and progress towards higher realms after death.
My Brilliant Friend
Elena Ferrante
My Brilliant Friend is the gripping first volume in Elena Ferrante’s widely acclaimed Neapolitan Novels. The story begins in the 1950s in a poor but vibrant neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples, where Elena and Lila form a complex and intense friendship. Through their lives, Ferrante tells the story of a neighborhood, a city, and a country as it undergoes significant transformations. The novel explores themes of female experience, rivalry, and friendship, creating an unsentimental portrait of two girls’ path into womanhood and the broader societal changes around them[2][4][5].
Sense and Sensibility
Jane Austen
Published in 1811, 'Sense and Sensibility' is Jane Austen's first published novel. It tells the story of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, who, along with their mother and younger sister Margaret, are forced to leave their family estate after their father's death. The novel explores the contrast between Elinor's practical sense and Marianne's emotional sensibility as they experience romantic relationships and heartbreak. Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars, who is secretly engaged to another woman, while Marianne becomes infatuated with the unscrupulous John Willoughby. Through their experiences, Austen delves into themes of love, social class, and the balance between reason and emotion necessary for personal happiness[2][4][5].
Napoleon - a Life Told in Gardens and Shadows
Napoleon - a Life Told in Gardens and Shadows
Ruth Scurr
FATAL PURITY: ROBESPIERRE AND THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
Ruth Scurr
Fatal Purity by Ruth Scurr delves into the life of Maximilien Robespierre, tracing his evolution from a provincial lawyer to a key figure in the French Revolution. The book explores his contradictions, from being a passionate advocate for reform to becoming a leader during the Reign of Terror. Scurr provides a nuanced portrayal of Robespierre's complex character and his impact on the Revolution.
My own life
David Hume
David Hume's autobiography, a concise and insightful account of his life and career as a philosopher.
The most challenging part of being a biographer for Ruth Scurr is finding the best form to tell a life. “You can't go in there with a workmanlike attitude saying, ‘I'm going to do cradle to grave.’ You’ve got to somehow connect and resonate with the life, and then things will develop from that.” Known for her innovative literary portraits of Robespierre and John Aubrey, Scurr’s latest book follows Napoleon’s life through his engagement with the natural world. This approach broadens the usual cast of characters included in Napoleon’s life story, providing new perspectives with which to understand him.
Ruth joined Tyler to discuss why she considers Danton the hero of the French Revolution, why the Jacobins were so male-obsessed, the wit behind Condorcet's idea of a mechanical king, the influence of Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments during and after the Reign of Terror, why 18th-century French thinkers were obsessed with finding forms of government that would fit with emerging market forces, whether Hayek’s critique of French Enlightenment theorists is correct, the relationship between the French Revolution and today’s woke culture, the truth about Napoleon’s diplomatic skills, the poor prospects for pitching biographies to publishers, why Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws would be her desert island read, why Cambridge is a better city than Oxford, why the Times Literary Supplement remains important today, what she loves about Elena Ferrante’s writing, how she stays open as a biographer, and more.
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