From Dawn to Decadence : 500 Years of Cultural Triumph and Defeat, 1500 to the Present
By Jacques Barzun"A stunning five-century study of civilization's cultural retreat." ' William Safire, New York Times
Highly regarded here and abroad for some thirty works of cultural history and criticism, master historian Jacques Barzun has set down in one continuous narrative the sum of his discoveries and conclusions about the whole of Western culture since 1500.
Barzun describes what Western Man wrought from the Renaissance and Reformation down to the present in the double light of its own time and our pressing concerns. He introduces characters and incidents with his unusual literary style and grace, bringing to the fore those that have been forgotten or obscured. His compelling chapters'such as "Puritans as Democrats," "The Monarchs' Revolution," and "The Artist Prophet and Jester"'show the recurrent role of great themes throughout the era.
The triumphs and defeats of five hundred years form an inspiring saga that modifies the current impression of one long tale of oppression by white European males. Women and their deeds are prominent, and freedom (even in sexual matters) is not an invention of the last decades. And when Barzun rates the present not as a culmination but a decline, he is in no way a prophet of doom. Instead, he shows decadence as the normal close of great periods and a necessary condition of the creative novelty that will burst forth'tomorrow or the next day.
Only after a lifetime of separate studies covering a broad territory could a writer create with such ease the synthesis displayed in this magnificent volume.
show more
Book details
- Hardcover
- 704 pages
- English
- 0060175869
- 9780060175863
About Jacques Barzun
jacques barzun was Read More about Jacques Barzun
More Books By Jacques Barzun
People who bought this also bought
The world atlas of wine; a complete guide to the wines and spirits of the world
Used Book
The Hidden Epidemic: Confronting Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Summary
Used Book
Integral Spirituality: Resources for Community, Justice, Peace and the Earth
Used Book
Thin for Life: 10 Keys to Success from People Who Have Lost Weight and Kept It Off
Used Book
Evangelicals and Catholics Together : Toward a Common Mission
Used Book
Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less: A Handbook for Slashing Gas Prices and Solving Our Energy Crisis
Used Book
Straight from the Horse's Mouth: How to Talk to Animals and Get Answers
Used Book
Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West
Used Book
Keys to Excellence in Integrated Language Arts Level C
Used Book