Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the Huguenot exile experience, rather than the seemingly innate religious fervour of the refugees. It examines why Protestants stayed in France as nouveaux convert is while a minority went into exile, asking which determined who became a refugee. The book explores the different 'career paths' of Huguenot refugees in the Dutch Republic, focusing on textile entrepreneurs, ministers, booksellers and the urban poor to analyse how successful refugees were in building up a new life and supporting their families. It proves an instant best-seller, reprinted six times until 1905 and translated into French in 1870. This book therefore takes a different approach than most studies of the Refuge. The book aims to fuse these various sources and approaches to arrive at a deeper, nuanced understanding of the Huguenot exile experience. It analyses the Huguenot exile experience and proposes a synthetic approach.