Archibald Alison (1792-1867) was a deeply conservative Scottish historian who viewed political reform and democracy with suspicion. His History of Europe during the French Revolution was published after the Reform Act of 1832, and regarded the democratic ideals of the early revolutionaries as leading to Europe-wide anarchy.

This bestselling history, published between 1833 and 1842, interpreted the French Revolution as a warning about the dangers of democracy.