Aim for getting through the book on the first pass. Your comprehension will be low, but it will be a good start. To use the brick/house metaphor, you're looking at the outside of the house here. You're not looking into any of the rooms. When you hone in during the following activation sessions, you don't have to get through the whole book. You can split it up into thirds, fourths, one chapter, etc.
If it comes down to it, feel free to RapidRead. The PR Police won't show up at your door.
Also, consider using the Movie Activation technique. Just make sure you do at least one additional pass through the book to notice differences and details left out.
If you have the time, consider PhotoReading some books on the time period as well, such as Jules Michelet's history of the French Revolution. Don't worry too much about activating them, as they are more background to help form a pattern for the main book to gel around.
Feel free to get coaching.
