John Hardman was Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Edinburgh from 1969-1983 and Senior Research Fellow at Sussex University, 2000 -2004. He is the author of many books on late eighteenth century France and the French revolution, including most recently Louis XVI: The Silent King.

Hardman has done more than anyone to map the causes and consequences of Calonne's sudden fall from office. No historian of the Revolution will doubt the point of his endeavour or the value of his scholarship.

• Introduction: The state of France in 1786: Illusion and reality ; 1. Calonne's reform programme and its adoption by the king ; 2. Choosing the Notables ; 3. Delayed opening of the Assembly ; 4. Provincial Assemblies ; 5. Calonne's land tax ; 6. Customs and excise reform and the royal domain: the memoirs of the second and third divisions ; 7. The Easter crisis ; 8. The brief ministry of Bouvard de Fourqueux ; 9. The demand for institutional checks ; 10. Conclusion and Epilogue 1787-89: continuity and disjunction ; Appendix 1 ; Appendix 2 ; Appendix 3 ; Appendix 4 ; Bibliography

John Hardman was Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Edinburgh from 1969-1983 and Senior Research Fellow at Sussex University, 2000 -2004. He is the author of many books on late eighteenth century France and the French revolution, including most recently Louis XVI: The Silent King.

Hardman has done more than anyone to map the causes and consequences of Calonne's sudden fall from office. No historian of the Revolution will doubt the point of his endeavour or the value of his scholarship.

• Introduction: The state of France in 1786: Illusion and reality ; 1. Calonne's reform programme and its adoption by the king ; 2. Choosing the Notables ; 3. Delayed opening of the Assembly ; 4. Provincial Assemblies ; 5. Calonne's land tax ; 6. Customs and excise reform and the royal domain: the memoirs of the second and third divisions ; 7. The Easter crisis ; 8. The brief ministry of Bouvard de Fourqueux ; 9. The demand for institutional checks ; 10. Conclusion and Epilogue 1787-89: continuity and disjunction ; Appendix 1 ; Appendix 2 ; Appendix 3 ; Appendix 4 ; Bibliography

John Hardman was Lecturer in Modern History at the University of Edinburgh from 1969-1983 and Senior Research Fellow at Sussex University, 2000 -2004. He is the author of many books on late eighteenth century France and the French revolution, including most recently Louis XVI: The Silent King.

Hardman has done more than anyone to map the causes and consequences of Calonne's sudden fall from office. No historian of the Revolution will doubt the point of his endeavour or the value of his scholarship.

• Introduction: The state of France in 1786: Illusion and reality ; 1. Calonne's reform programme and its adoption by the king ; 2. Choosing the Notables ; 3. Delayed opening of the Assembly ; 4. Provincial Assemblies ; 5. Calonne's land tax ; 6. Customs and excise reform and the royal domain: the memoirs of the second and third divisions ; 7. The Easter crisis ; 8. The brief ministry of Bouvard de Fourqueux ; 9. The demand for institutional checks ; 10. Conclusion and Epilogue 1787-89: continuity and disjunction ; Appendix 1 ; Appendix 2 ; Appendix 3 ; Appendix 4 ; Bibliography