This book investigates how the nineteenth-century French early music revival functioned as a site of cultural contestation and identity formation. Katharine Ellis, a Reader in Music at Royal Holloway, University of London, utilizes archival research and historical analysis to examine the shifting perceptions of musical heritage. She argues that the revival was not merely an aesthetic movement but a complex negotiation of national identity, institutional power, and historical memory. The text provides a framework for understanding how repertories from the medieval period through the Baroque were curated and reinterpreted for contemporary audiences.

Scholars and musicologists frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of historiography and performance practice in France. Experts highlight the rigorous archival depth and the clarity with which the author navigates the complex socio-political landscape of the period.