This volume investigates the structural, social, and political transformations of France during the century preceding the Revolution of 1789. William Doyle, a prominent historian of the eighteenth century, utilizes a synthesis of archival research and historiographical analysis to examine the decline of the absolute monarchy. He argues that the rigid social hierarchies and fiscal instability of the Old Regime created insurmountable pressures that eventually rendered the system unsustainable.

Historians and students of French history frequently cite this work as a reliable, concise overview of the period's complex political landscape. The text is noted for its academic clarity and its ability to distill dense historical developments into a coherent narrative for both scholars and undergraduates.