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James H. Billington
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Fire in the Minds of Men: Origins of the Revolutionary Faith

by James Billington (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 133 ratings
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This book traces the origins of a faith--perhaps the faith of the century. Modern revolutionaries are believers, no less committed and intense than were Christians or Muslims of an earlier era. What is new is the belief that a perfect secular order will emerge from forcible overthrow of traditional authority. This inherently implausible idea energized Europe in the nineteenth century, and became the most pronounced ideological export of the West to the rest of the world in the twentieth century. Billington is interested in revolutionaries--the innovative creators of a new tradition. His historical frame extends from the waning of the French Revolution in the late eighteenth century to the beginnings of the Russian Revolution in the early twentieth century.

The theater was Europe of the industrial era; the main stage was the journalistic offices within great cities such as Paris, Berlin, London, and St. Petersburg. Billington claims with considerable evidence that revolutionary ideologies were shaped as much by the occultism and proto-romanticism of Germany as the critical rationalism of the French Enlightenment. The conversion of social theory to political practice was essentially the work of three Russian revolutions: in 1905, March 1917, and November 1917.

Events in the outer rim of the European world brought discussions about revolution out of the school rooms and press rooms of Paris and Berlin into the halls of power.

Despite his hard realism about the adverse practical consequences of revolutionary dogma, Billington appreciates the identity of its best sponsors, people who preached social justice transcending traditional national, ethnic, and gender boundaries. When this book originally appeared The New Republic hailed it as "remarkable, learned and lively," while The New Yorker noted that Billington "pays great attention to the lives and emotions of individuals and this makes his book absorbing." It is an invaluable work of history and contribution to our understanding of political life.

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  1. ISBN-10
    0765804719
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0765804716
  3. Publication date
    September 30, 1998
  4. Language
    English
  5. Dimensions
    5.98 x 1.56 x 9.02 inches
  6. Print length
    677 pages
  7. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Billington, James

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Routledge (September 30, 1998)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 677 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0765804719
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0765804716
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.82 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.98 x 1.56 x 9.02 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 133 ratings

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James H. Billington

James H. Billington

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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
133 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars It teaches you how the Revolutionary Concept began, and provides example through France and Russia.
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2021
Verified Purchase
I enjoy reading this book because it provides information about how Revolutions begin and the concepts supporting the Revolutionary's ideology.
4 people found this helpful
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Earth that Was
5.0 out of 5 stars James Billington's classic from our time
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2006
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This is one of the great history books of our time.

Billington provides a comprehensive account of the revolutionary obsession from the 18th until the 20th century. He examines in particular national and socialist revolution and the cast of sometimes bizarre characters, cults and conspiracies that peppered these movements.

Beautifully written, it is a joy to read. Billington treats his subject matter with empathy but is by no means a revolutionist himself.

Gibbon's "Decline aand Fall of the Roman Empire" is still being read today more than three centuries after it was penned. Billington's book will be a must read centuries from now too.
54 people found this helpful
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Bernard J. Buonocore Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars About Revolutions & Revolutionaries who were not shaped by critical rationalism but by the occultism & romanticism of Germany.
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2018
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I have not read this book yet but I know it is a classic and was highly recommended by the distinguished Dr. Stanley Monteith. I recommend a youtube video. Here is the youtube title: The Forbidden Secret Dr. Stanley Monteith
31 people found this helpful
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shortcake
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2017
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its a good read
One person found this helpful
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Greg Hetrick
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic that remains meaningful
Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2013
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This book deals with the development of revolutionary theories and practices from the French Revolution, through Marx and Engels, and into the 20th Century. Billington traces how revolutionaries came to think of their actions as eventually creating a utopia, even if they would not live to see it. This quasi-religious viewpoint can be seen in the radical religious movements currently active in the world.
22 people found this helpful
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Pho Queue
5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book
Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2020
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Amazing book that all should read
One person found this helpful
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Ray
5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary
Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2014
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Am still in the process of reading the book, as it is a good-sized tome. But it is worth every page. On the same level as 'Democracy in America' by Toquevile.
5 people found this helpful
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Kwame A Mensah
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2019
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Good book
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

goodpr
5.0 out of 5 stars Revolutionary history
Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
Only just begun to read this but this is a very indepth discussion of how revolutions are ignited
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Aaron
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book, but the delivery took over 9 weeks
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2013
Verified Purchase
This book is extremely inciteful and I have had to re-read several parts as it touches on metaphysical subject matters. The product arrived over 9 weeks with a circular coffee stain on the front. A couple of times I was contacted to cancell the order as it was taking a long time to deliver. I wanted the book so I persisted in waiting, however they could of taken time to wipe the front cover before eventually posting it.
4 people found this helpful
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Spikegenius
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!!
Reviewed in Canada on December 20, 2021
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Worth the read!
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Jack W. H. Kelly
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 7, 2013
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An extensive, thoroughly researched and highly accessible book that courageously covers the idea of revolution in 19th century, but one which requires patience and concentration. Contains several useful biographies of key revolutionaries - such as Babeuf, Blanqui, Marx - and many other lesser known characters in the revolutionary opera. The author is quite clearly a superior researcher, utilizing a vast range of sources.
6 people found this helpful
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Rexnemore
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow. There's so much behind the Western Culture that ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 7, 2015
Verified Purchase
Wow. There's so much behind the Western Culture that I had no idea about. Very in depth. Very 'humanising' I felt. He shows the ideas, the drama, but also the human element. Seriously impressive.
2 people found this helpful
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