Century's End: A Cultural History of the Fin de Siècle

By Hillel Schwartz

A sweeping and magisterial account of the cultural history of the fin de siècle, from the 1880s to the early 1900s.

In this brilliant and comprehensive work, Hillel Schwartz explores the cultural history of the fin de siècle, a period of profound change and upheaval that marked the end of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth. Schwartz argues that the fin de siècle was a time of crisis and transformation, as traditional values and beliefs were challenged by new ideas and new technologies.

The book is divided into three parts.

The first part, "The Crisis of Modernity," examines the social and intellectual changes that led to the crisis of modernity. Schwartz discusses the rise of industrialization, urbanization, and mass culture, as well as the decline of traditional religious beliefs and values.

The second part, "The Culture of Decadence," explores the artistic and literary movements that emerged in response to the crisis of modernity. Schwartz discusses the work of writers such as Oscar Wilde, Joris-Karl Huysmans, and Gabriele D'Annunzio, as well as artists such as Gustav Klimt, Aubrey Beardsley, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.

The third part, "The Search for New Beginnings," examines the ways in which people sought to find new meaning and purpose in the face of the crisis of modernity. Schwartz discusses the rise of new religious movements, the growth of nationalism, and the emergence of modernism.

Century's End is a magisterial work of scholarship that offers a profound and nuanced understanding of one of the most important periods in Western history.

Schwartz's book is essential reading for anyone interested in the cultural history of the fin de siècle.

Praise for Century's End

"A brilliant and comprehensive account of the cultural history of the fin de siècle. Schwartz's book is essential reading for anyone interested in this important period." — The New York Times Book Review

"A magisterial work of scholarship that offers a profound and nuanced understanding of one of the most important periods in Western history." — The Wall Street Journal

"A sweeping and ambitious work that will change the way we think about the fin de siècle." — The Boston Globe

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