To what extent did the French Revolution "revolutionize" the French family? In examining the changes in inheritance laws brought on by the Revolution, Margaret Darrow gives a lively account of the mixed effects legislation had on families of this period. As a test case, she has chosen the southern city of Montauban, whose Roman-based law enabling testators to appoint their heirs was contradicted by the new laws instituting equal inheritance. Filled with vivid anecdotes, this book shows how Montauban families in varying social classes adapted their financial strategies to cope with rapidly...