This important and original book addresses the nature of public opinion, the relation between rulers and ruled, and the role of popular rumours in eighteenth century France. Arlette Farge draws on chronicles, newspapers, memoirs, police records and newsheets to show that ordinary Parisians had definite opinions on what was happening in their city.

Arlette Farge is Director of Research in Modern History at the CNRS, Paris. Her previous books include Rules of Rebellion (with Jacques Revel, Polity, 1991) and Fragile Lives (Polity, 1993).