sarah maza author of the myth of the french bourgeoisie an essay on the social imaginary in the family on trial in revolutionary france suzanne desan brings together evidence of the lively struggles among lawmakers judges and ordinary women and men to remake family relations during the french revolution marriage divorce inheritance unwed mothers and their children the revolution redefined them all desan restores the optimism of a revolution which even while foundering in the . The family on trial in revolutionary france book description in a groundbreaking book that challenges many assumptions about gender and politics in the french revolution suzanne desan offers an insightful analysis of the ways the revolution radically redefined the family and its internal dynamics. In the family on trial in revolutionary france suzanne desan brings together evidence of the lively struggles among lawmakers judges and ordinary women and men to remake family relations during the french revolution marriage divorce inheritance unwed mothers and their children the revolution redefined them all desan restores the optimism of a revolution which even while foundering in the terror and conservative backlash bequeathed to the 19th century alternative ways of imagining . The family on trial in revolutionary france suzanne desan university of california press berkeley los angeles london contents list of illustrations ix acknowledgments xi introduction 1 1 freedom of the heart men and women critique marriage 15 2 the political power of love marriage regeneration and citizenship 47 3 broken bonds the revolutionary practice of divorce 93 4 war