1848 the Year of Revolutions, France, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Chorlton

We had our own revolution in Chorlton in 1848, but that is a story for later.

In the meantime, another fine In Our Time, today on Radio 4, well worth listening. This and past programmes are available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/features/in-our-time/podcasts/


“Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss 1848, the year that saw Europe engulfed in revolution. Across the continent, from Paris to Palermo, liberals rose against conservative governments. The first stirrings of rebellion came in January, in Sicily; in February the French monarchy fell; and within a few months Germany, Austria, Hungary and Italy had all been overtaken by revolutionary fervour. Only a few countries, notably Britain and Russia, were spared.
The rebels were fighting for nationalism, social justice and civil rights, and were prepared to fight in the streets down to the last man. Tens of thousands of people lost their lives; but little of lasting value was achieved, and by the end of the year the liberal revolutions had been soundly beaten.
With:
Tim Blanning
Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Cambridge
Lucy Riall
Professor of History at Birkbeck, University of London
Mike Rapport
Senior Lecturer in History at the University “

BBC sleeve notes

Picture; March 19 1848, Berlin