Marisa Linton

Marisa Linton is professor emerita in history at Kingston University London, specialising in the French Revolution. Her books include Choosing Terror: Virtue, Friendship and Authenticity in the French Revolution (Oxford University Press, 2013)

Napoleon Bonaparte depicted as emperor of France in c1804. By now he had his sights set on establishing a dynasty (Photo by Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images)

How Napoleon (almost) destroyed the French Revolution

Robespierre is guillotined on 28 July 1794. Had he died two years earlier, his name would now be associated with liberty and equality, argues Marisa Linton. (Universal History Archive/Getty Images)

Robespierre: man of terror

Camille and Lucile Desmoulins

How the architects of the 'Terror' after the French Revolution ended up among its victims

The storming of the Bastille, 14 July 1789, as depicted by artist Charles Thévenin

Napoleon’s chance: why the French Revolution was Bonaparte's big break

The French Revolution: Everything you need to know