There is of course a daunting amount of literature on the French Revoloution which often means that first-time students are often faced with a lottery concerning the book they choose. This book has no pretentions whatsoever to being all encompassing or a psycho-sociological analysis of the revoloution itself.
Origins of the French Revolution is a comprehensive review of the corrupted and doomed Bourbon regime. It is rich in detail and facts about the reigns of Louis XIV through Louis XVI.
Doyle gives a good summary of the causes of the French Revolution. Excellent book if you're looking for a survey of the events of 1986-89, or if you're interested in some of the debates that have come up on the history of the Revolution from the 1940's to the 1980's.
Succint and badass. A brief three-chapter introduction looks over the wackiness of historiographical traditions on the Rev', as I like to call it.
