''A Place of Greater Safety'' is a 1992 novel by Hilary Mantel. It concerns the events of the French Revolution, focusing on the lives of

Georges Danton Georges Jacques Danton (; 26 October 1759 – 5 April 1794) was a French lawyer and a leading figure in the French Revolution. He became a deputy to the Paris Commune, presided in the Cordeliers district, and visited the Jacobin club. In Augus ...

, Camille Desmoulins, and Maximilien Robespierre from their childhood through the execution of the Dantonists, and also featuring hundreds of other historical figures.

Background

Although Mantel began writing the novel in 1975 and completed it in 1979, she was initially unable to find a publisher. “I wrote a letter to an agent saying would you look at my book, it’s about the French Revolution, it’s not a historical romance, and the letter came back saying, we do not take historical romances. They literally could not read my letter, because of the expectations surrounding the words ‘French Revolution’—that it was bound to be about ladies with high hair." The novel remained unpublished until 1992. Mantel explains that, where possible, she used the historical figures' own words, from their speeches or writings.

Reception

''A Place of Greater Safety'' won the

Sunday Express Book of the Year The '' Sunday Express'' Book of the Year also known as The Sunday Express Fiction Award was awarded between 1987 and 1993. Worth £20,000 for the winner and £1,000 for each of the five shortlisted authors, it was the most lucrative fiction prize ...

award. '' The New York Times'' praised Mantel, but not the book, wondering if "more novel and less history might not better suit this author's unmistakable talent."

References

1992 British novels Novels set in the French Revolution Novels by Hilary Mantel Works about Georges Danton Works about Maximilien Robespierre Cultural depictions of Georges Danton Cultural depictions of Maximilien Robespierre Viking Press books {{1990s-hist-novel-stub