Ruth Scurr

In this discussion, historian Ruth Scurr, a biographer of Maximilien Robespierre, explores the complexities of this pivotal figure in the French Revolution. She delves into Robespierre's rise within the Jacobin Club and his radical beliefs influenced by thinkers like Rousseau. The conversation also highlights the role of street violence, including the September Massacres, and the tensions between revolutionary ideals and the brutal realities of leadership. Scurr paints a vivid picture of a man striving to reconcile virtue with the chaos of revolution.

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.