The French Revolution, says UNLV history professor Gregory S. Brown, belies the phrase "there are two sides to every story."

In his latest work, the French specialist looks at the historic time from the perspectives of ordinary people. "The conflict of the French Revolution was, in fact, many different conflicts," Brown says, "not reducible to a two-sided dispute. The conflicts played out over one another, and any attempt to reduce the revolution to an 'either-or' dichotomy would distort the experience, beliefs, and efforts of those involved."

His work is part of the Greenwood Press Cultures in Conflict series. "The series asks, 'How do ordinary people at the same time and place experience momentous events differently?'" Brown explains.

He draws upon letters and newspapers to craft a collection of interpretive, thematic essays on the subject. Because of the series' reliance on primary sources, Brown found he had to identify, edit, and, in many cases, translate original documents.

"While there are many memoirs written during the revolution, most of those that were published were from a very hostile viewpoint," Brown says. "I had to find sources that reflected the everyday experience of ordinary people in a way that would do justice to those who participated in and supported the revolution."

Overall, he adds, "ordinary people in the French Revolution had to balance their sense of patriotism and commitment to their country and their fellow citizens with their own personal understanding of liberty."