Banners of the King: The War of the Vendée, 1793-4

Quarto. 335, [1]pp. Original illustrated dust-jacket over brown cloth with gold lettering on spine. Pictorial endpapers. The great uprising in the west of France, known as the War of the Vendée, is the subject of this remarkable work. This is a fascinating history of one of the least known of European wars. Though often confused with the Chouannerie, the War of the Vendée was entirely independent of the Breton rising. This is a comprehensive account of the reasons which gave birth to the revolt and draws a vivid portrait of the country gentlemen who were unwillingly drawn into the struggle by their own tenants to establish freedom of religion, a struggle which inevitably became also a fight to re-establish the monarchy. This work is illustrated with several b/w photographic reproductions. Dust-jacket, binding and interior in overall very good condition.