The second period of the precious diary by Pierre-Louis-Nicolas Delahaye (1745-1805), school master at Silly-en-Multien (Oise), covers the crucial 1792-1803 era from the Convention to the Consulate. As a shrewd observer and local actor, the author bears witness in a very vivid way to the emergence of the Revolution in the village while revealing... Read More
Follow-up to the already published period (1771-1792), the lately recovered second part of the fascinating diary by Pierre-Louis-Nicolas Delahaye (1745-1805), school master and parish clerk of Silly-en-Multien, a village in the former diocese of Meaux, currently Silly-le-Long (Oise), covers the crucial era between October 1792 and 1803, from the Convention to the Directory and the Consulate. A shrewd observer, privileged witness and local actor at the heart of the community, the author proposes a very vivid and detailed narrative of the events that he and his fellow citizens went through, showing how the Revolution was received in the village, suffering the hardships of war, the crises and the politico-religious upheaval. Also revealed is the development of an endearing character rooted in his century of shadows and Enlightenment, a private man in his familial and professional environment, as well as a public man, Christian and patriot faced with the most tremendous acceleration of the "short time" of French history.