The Devil in the Holy Water, or the Art of Slander from Louis XIV to Napoleon  

Robert Darnton's *The Devil in the Holy Water, or the Art of Slander* stands as a quintessential example of his masterful historical storytelling and his ability to illuminate the hidden currents of everyday life in the past. Within its pages, Darnton dives deep into the sensational and often scurrilous world of eighteenth-century French pamphlet literature, revealing how the seemingly trivial business of gossip and slander served as a powerful tool for social commentary and political maneuvering. He meticulously unearths the clandestine networks that produced and disseminated these scandalous texts, demonstrating how they provided a vital outlet for dissent and shaped public opinion in ways often overlooked by more traditional historical accounts. This book embodies Darnton's signature approach: a meticulous excavation of obscure sources to reconstruct the vibrant, complex, and often surprisingly modern mentalities of bygone eras, making it an indispensable addition to any collection of his best work. This work undeniably belongs on a list of Robert Darnton's best for its exemplary demonstration of his core scholarly contributions and his enduring appeal as a historian. *The Devil in the Holy Water* showcases Darnton's signature ability to transform a seemingly niche topic – the underground world of pre-revolutionary Parisian pamphlets – into a captivating narrative that speaks to fundamental questions about power, persuasion, and the nature of public discourse. His deep engagement with the material culture of print, his knack for uncovering fascinating details, and his ability to connect micro-histories to larger historical forces are all on full display. For readers seeking to understand how history can be brought vividly to life, revealing the anxieties, desires, and intellectual battles of past societies through rigorous research and compelling prose, *The Devil in the Holy Water* is a definitive and unforgettable achievement.