L'Ami du Peuple

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The L'Ami du Peuple (The People's Friend) was a newspaper edited and written by Jean-Paul Marat , which during the time of the French Revolution sharply attacked the leaders of the counter-revolution and its politics on the part of the people. Even after revolutionary representatives like Robespierre had taken over the government, the newspaper continued to play its role critical of the government and demanded, among other things, the introduction of the constitution of 1793 in order to give the people more extensive rights.

On August 11, 1789, Marat first published the Moniteur patriotique . After he had lost his influence on this newspaper, he founded the "Publiciste Parisien" on September 12th, which he renamed L'Ami du Peuple on the 16th . Around a thousand issues appeared under changing titles. Only later did the newspaper appear daily. With a circulation of 2000 it was not the most widely distributed newspaper, but it had a stable readership in Paris as in the rest of the country.

In small format ( octave ), on 8 to 10 pages, with a large leading article, the paper reported in provocative and pathetic language about everyday supply problems of the people and the real or alleged intrigues of the rulers in town and country. With the exception of the letters to the editor, Marat was the sole author.

The title that became popular as a result was subsequently also used by other newspapers, such as the Trierischer Volksfreund , which still exists today , cf. also friends of the people .

literature

  • Jean-Paul-Marat: Œuvres Politiques 1789–1793 (10 volumes), textes et guide de lecture établis par Jacques De Cock et Charlotte Goëtz . Editions Pôle Nord, Bruxelles 1989–1995

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