Le peage en France au XVIIIe siecle: Les privileges a l'e'preuve de la reforme.(Book Review)

by Anne Conchon (Paris: Comite pour l'Histoire Economique et Financiere de la France, 2002; pp. 583. Eur 35).

Not so long ago the magnificent French doctoral tradition seemed in mortal danger. Appalled by the elephantine scale to which some theses had grown, and impressed despite themselves by the productivity of 'Anglo-Saxon' PhDs, the French recast research qualifications into a much shorter thesis followed by a German-style habilitation based on further work. Confusion reigned for half a generation. But adjustment is now setting in, and work of superb quality is beginning once more to appear. If it is on economic or financial history, the best is likely to find a …