大象传媒

We follow 18th century writer, Arthur Young's description of the pre-Revolutionary French countryside villages and small towns. He vividly describes the conditions of the working poor of France and puts his finger on the causes of revolution.

Here, he recreates the images of his travels and his scenery from the enormous ch芒teaux of luxury to the 'walking dung hill peasants' who lived in miserable mud-cabins. Around 80% of pre-Revolutionary Frenchmen were peasants. This description is accompanied by a brief explanation of the demands upon the working poor and the corruption and inequalities that kept the peasants in servitude.

Arthur Young is scathing about the French nobility and berates them for not using their position of privilege to help the working poor. He is equally critical of the Church who he describes as abusers of wealth when efficient farms could be established to feed the poor.