The French Revolution Jennifer Donnelly Summary

“Little by little, the old world crumbled, and not once did the king imagine that some of the pieces might fall on him.” Revolution author, Jennifer Donnelly, portrayed the hardships and terror felt during the French Revolution through a discovered diary of a young French girl detailing everyday life during the era. Donnelly’s words delineate the irony behind the revolution. She indicates how the aristocracy during the time, absorbed in their wealth, did not expect the rebellion caused by the poor. Pushing away from the “old world”, the peasants began to defy the affluent and their cruel ways. Believing the high class bloodline would live on forever, the nobles never feared their people. However, their underestimation led to a deadly downfall.