Drawing on art, artifacts, and literature that was left behind, these richly illustrated volumes recount captivating tales of everyday life in long-ago vanished worlds. This volume tells the compelling story of the kings of France whose desire for absolute power would result in the violent overthrow of the monarchy in the French Revolution. But it also recounts the tale of another revolution - a revolution of thought. The focus is on the daily lives and accomplishments of the grand men of ideas, philosophers, scientists, mathematicians and astronomers. It also describes and details the way of life of the bourgeoisie and the common man and women as they go about their lives amidst upheaval and radical change...