PARIS UNDER SIEGE; from the Goncourt Journal / Edited and Translated by George J. Becker

Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 1969. First Edition. Cloth. Near Fine/Very Good. Caricatures. 8vo, black cloth with silver lettering on spine, Introduction on "The Brothers Goncourt" by George J. Becker, with a historical Introduction entitled "The Terrible Year" by Paul H. Beik, illustrated with foldout "Map of Paris" as frontispiece & 6 full-page contemporary B&W cartoons, archival mylar-protected pictorial dust jacket (unclipped) depicting a cannon on wheels against a red background, lengthy excerpts from the Goncourt Journals, chronology, biographical notes, 334 pages. After the defeat of Emperor Napoleon III in September 1870, the French Second Empire collapsed. Thereafter, the French Third Republic went to war with Prussia, which laid siege to Paris for four months. Within Paris during the siege, the Commune or Federe, which was a radical socialist and revolutionary government, attempted to rule Paris from 28 March to 28 May 1871. <br/> <br/> In response, the regular French Army suppressed the Commune during "La semaine sanglante" ("The Bloody Week") beginning on 21 May 1871. The action by the Regulars led to a massacre. On paper, more than 100,000 Communards were killed, though many historians believe it was more like 25,000-35,000 killed, while roughly 750 government regulars died. Nearly 40,000 were arrested and over 7,000 deported. <br/> <br/> A useful edition on this bloody event in late 19th century French history. Tight copy with clean, unfoxed pages and illustrations. Some chipping to edges of the dust jacket (unclipped).