Robertson P.S. Revolutions of 1848

Princeton University Press, 1968. - 480 p.The problem with most history textbooks is that all too often the story is left out of the text. A collection of names, dates, and facts is what is left. Priscilla Robertson has done an exemplary job of avoiding such a failing. While providing the necessary names, dates, and places so that one is able to visualize the story being built, Ms. Robertson has provided an outstanding assessment of these events.The story of 1848, as is told in this book, is one of the people recognizing the need for change, but in many cases not being influential enough either in terms of physical power or in terms of political power to affect the change for a long period of time. In many respects, the story can be viewed as describing the necessity for the citizens to be able to protect themselves from an oppressive government, though in some cases, it can be citizens needing to protect themselves from each other.This book, as is pointed in the preface, does not focus on the details on the constitutions, individual leaders, or battles, but rather provides a rich account of how people when inspired by a dream or a vision, even one that is unsustainable, can rise up and let the world know that change must occur.