CHRISTIANITY AND THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. y A. Aulard. Translated by
Lady Frazer. (Ernest Benn mited, London. 10s. 6d. net.)-This is a competently written olume upon a very interestine. subject. Nearly all revol- lions have attacked the established religion of their country ad it is interesting to compare the anti-religious cam- ig,n in France in 1792 with the same campaign which as been carried on with varying intensity in Russia tiring the last ten years. M. Aulard comes to some nexpected conclusions. He does not think that Christi- nity was as deeply rooted in the French peasantry in the nd of the eighteenth century as has been supposed :- " It is a startling fact that the closing of Churches and their eseeration did not occasion serious riots like those which shortly ore had broken out through the persistence of some feudal ghts under the Revolution. . . . Not long ago in specialized tinge, I expressed a rather different opinion. It seemed to me len that Christianity was indestructibly rooted in the soul of the rench. Since then, having read more documents, and now having haps a clearer insight into the facts as a whole, I am startled at he ease with which the people of France in 1798 began to drop heir customary worship.'
fly people will, of course, disagree profoundly with his judgment, but they will find M. Aulard's evidence teresting and worth their study.
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