02464cam a22003253u 45000010005000000030007000050050017000120060002000290070005000310080041000360400011000770410017000880500007001051000034001122450024001462640051001703000047002213360026002683370026002943380036003205000031003565050064003875080104004515201404005555340045019596530022020046530038020266530032020648560042020961335UtSlPG20260610133043.0mcr n260607r1998||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d  aUtSlPG 7aen2iso639-1 4aDC1 aKingsley, Charles,d1819-187514aThe Ancien Régime 1aSalt Lake City, UT :bProject Gutenberg,c1998  a1 online resource :bmultiple file formats  atextbtxt2rdacontent  acomputerbc2rdamedia  aonline resourcebcr2rdacarrier  aRelease date is 1998-06-010 aPreface -- Caste -- Centralization -- The explosive forces.  aTranscribed from the 1902 "Historical Lectures and Essays" Macmillan and Co. edition by David Price  a"The Ancien Régime" by Charles Kingsley is a historical account written in the mid-19th century. This work critically examines the political and social structures of pre-revolutionary France, particularly focusing on the concept of caste and the class dynamics that led to the French Revolution. Kingsley contrasts these French conditions with those of Britain, stressing the latter's relative stability due to its lack of a rigid caste system.  The opening of the text sets the stage for an examination of the Ancien Régime by discussing the limitations placed on the author during the Royal Institution lectures, notably around topics of religious and political controversy. Kingsley reflects on the differences between British society and France, emphasizing that England's legislative efforts have benefited the poor without creating widespread misery, which he argues is crucial for societal stability. He identifies the dangers of a centralized power structure that can arise from a decaying aristocracy, suggesting that the absence of a strong middle class may lead to a revolution similar to what occurred in France. The narrative suggests that the issues stemming from a neglectful aristocracy and bureaucratic overreach are central to understanding the societal pressures that eventually contributed to the upheaval of the Ancien Régime. (This is an automatically generated summary.)  nOriginal publication data not identified  aFrance -- History  aFrance -- Politics and government  aFrance -- Social conditions40uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1335