Maximilien Robespierre, a key figure in the French Revolution, has been featured in numerous novels, either as a central character or in the broader context of revolutionary France. Here are some novels where Robespierre appears prominently or that center around the revolutionary era:
5 Novels About Robespierre
1. A Place of Greater Safety by Hilary Mantel

This historical novel tells the story of three major revolutionaries: Robespierre, Georges Danton, and Camille Desmoulins. Mantel masterfully brings the French Revolution to life, offering a deep psychological portrayal of Robespierre and his contemporaries.
2. The Gods Are Athirsty by Anatole France

A fictionalized account of the Reign of Terror, this novel portrays Robespierre’s role in the revolution and the escalating violence of the time. Anatole France captures the fervor and moral dilemmas of revolutionary figures.
3. Children of Saturn by John Neeleman

Rooted in deep research and told through the fates of three real-life historical figures including the English American political activist Thomas Paine, the French Revolution’s leading radical journalist Camille Desmoulins, the Machiavellian politician Joseph Fouché, and the women who stirred these radicals, Children of Saturn continues the literary tradition advanced by Hilary Mantel, promising readers a thrilling ride and an all-encompassing understanding of one of the most important watershed events in world history.
4. The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy

While Robespierre is not a central character, this adventure novel is set during the French Revolution. Robespierre’s Reign of Terror looms large as the backdrop for the story of an Englishman rescuing aristocrats from the guillotine.
5. The Danton Case and Thermidor: Two Plays by Stanislawa Przybyszewski

These works focus on the relationships and conflicts between Danton, Robespierre, and other revolutionaries. Przybyszewska, obsessed with the French Revolution, offers a sharp and dramatic examination of Robespierre’s idealism and ruthlessness.
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