Jacques Necker (and public opinion) [ Politics / Publicity ]
… published the compte rendu au roi , an extraordinary document that for the first time in French history laid bare the King’s finances to the reading public. Selling tens of thousands of copies within weeks and being translated into several … As much as the compte rendu elevated Necker’s reputation amongst the enlightened public and like-minded reformers, breaking the secrecy of absolute monarchy also rallied reactionary interests at court against him. Following the compte rendu ’s publication, a series of anonymous pamphlets soon appeared not only attacking Necker’s accounting, but also claiming that he had betrayed the monarchy and should be tried for treason (Hardman, …
Censorship | Finance | French Revolution | Public sphere | Third Estate
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