The Origins of Contemporary France. The Ancient Regime, by Hippolyte A. Taine

Translated by John Durand

• INTRODUCTION
• PREFACE BY THE AUTHOR: ON POLITICAL IGNORANCE AND WISDOM.

BOOK FIRST. THE STRUCTURE OF THE ANCIENT SOCIETY.

• CHAPTER I. THE ORIGIN OF PRIVILEGES.
• CHAPTER II. THE PRIVILEGED CLASSES.
• CHAPTER III. LOCAL SERVICES DUE BY THE PRIVILEGED CLASSES.
• CHAPTER IV. PUBLIC SERVICES DUE BY THE PRIVILEGED CLASSES.

BOOK SECOND. MORALS AND CHARACTERS.

• CHAPTER I. MORAL PRINCIPLES UNDER THE ANCIENT REGIME.
• CHAPTER II. DRAWING ROOM LIFE.
• CHAPTER III. DISADVANTAGES OF THIS DRAWING ROOM LIFE.

BOOK THIRD. THE SPIRIT AND THE DOCTRINE.

• CHAPTER I. SCIENTIFIC ACQUISITION.
• CHAPTER II. THE CLASSIC SPIRIT, THE SECOND ELEMENT.
• CHAPTER III. COMBINATION OF THE TWO ELEMENTS.
• CHAPTER IV. ORGANIZING THE FUTURE SOCIETY.

BOOK FOURTH. THE PROPAGATION OF THE DOCTRINE.

• CHAPTER I. SUCCESS OF THIS PHILOSOPHY IN FRANCE. - FAILURE OF THE SAME PHILOSOPHY IN ENGLAND.
• CHAPTER II. THE FRENCH PUBLIC.
• CHAPTER III. THE MIDDLE CLASS.

BOOK FIFTH. THE PEOPLE

• CHAPTER I. HARDSHIPS.
• CHAPTER II. TAXATION THE PRINCIPAL CAUSE OF MISERY.
• CHAPTER III. INTELLECTUAL STATE OF THE PEOPLE.
• CHAPTER IV. THE ARMED FORCES.
• CHAPTER V. SUMMARY.
• END OF VOLUME NOTES