"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.
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To leaf through Barzun's sweeping, densely detailed but lightly written survey of the last 500 years is to ride a whirlwind of world-changing events. Barzun ponders, for instance, the tumultuous political climate of Renaissance Italy, which yielded mayhem and chaos, but also the work of Michelangelo and Leonardo--and, he adds, the scientific foundations for today's consumer culture of boom boxes and rollerblades. He considers the 16th-century varieties of religious experimentation that arose in the wake of Martin Luther's 95 theses, some of which led to the repression of individual personality, others of which might easily have come from the "Me Decade." Along the way, he offers a miniature history of the detective novel, defends Surrealism from its detractors, and derides the rise of professional sports, packing in a wealth of learned and often barbed asides.
Never shy of controversy, Barzun writes from a generally conservative position; he insists on the importance of moral values, celebrates the historical contributions of Christopher Columbus, and twits the academic practitioners of political correctness. Whether accepting of those views or not, even the most casual reader will find much that is new or little-explored in this attractive venture into cultural history. --Gregory McNamee
Highly regarded here and abroad for some thirty works of cultural history and criticism, master historian Jacques Barzun has now set down in one continuous narrative the sum of his discoveries and conclusions about the whole of Western culture since 1500.
In this account, Barzun describes what Western Man wrought from the Renaisance 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 "Puritans as Democrats," "The Monarch's Revolution," "The Artist Prophet and Jester"--show the recurrent role of great themes throughout the eras.
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 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.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: New. Dust Jacket Condition: New. 1st Edition. STUNNING: BRILLIANT: INSPIRING: MAGNIFICENT: NEW First Edition hardcover (orig. 2000) First Printing, NEW unclipped mylar-protected jacket w/ sharp NEW edges & corners & showing orig. $36.00 pub. price top-right inside-front flyleaf, IMMACULATE smooth-cut text-block exterior, IMPECCABLE cream-white card-stock end-papers, NEW perfect binding w/ tight signatures & b-w-checked cloth bands at spine-caps, PRISTINE interior handsomely printed on EXCELLENT unblemished paper * 6.36" x 9.50" x 2.04", 1.40 kg, xvii+877 (891) pp. * ABOUT THE BOOK: "A stunning five-century study of civilization's cultural retreat." - William Safire, New York Times * Highly regarded here & abroad for some 30 works of cultural history & criticism, master historian Jacques Barzun has now set down in one continuous narrative the sum of his discoveries & conclusion about the whole of Western culture & civilization since 1500. In this account, Barzun describes what Western man wrought from the Renaissance & Reformation down to the present in the double light of its own time & our pressing concerns. He introduces characters & incidents w/ his usual literary style & grace, bringing to the fore those that have been forgotten or obscured. His compelling chapters ("Puritans as Democrats", "The Monarch's Revolution", "The Artist Prophet & Jester") show the recurrent role of great themes throughout the eras. The triumphs & defeats of 500 years form an inspiring saga that modifies the current impression of one long tale of oppression by white European males. Women & their deeds are prominent, & freedom (even in sexual matters) is not an invention of the last decades. And when Barzun rates the present not as a culmination but as a decline, he is in no way a prophet of doom. Instead, he shows decadence as the normal close of great periods & 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 w/ such ease the brilliant synthesis displayed in this magnificent volume. * SHIPPING: MNEMOSYNE carefully wraps, labels & custom-packages this fine book for FREE domestic shipment via USPS MEDIA MAIL or USPS PRIORITY MAIL for a below-cost additional fee & via USPS FIRST CLASS INTERNATIONAL AIRMAIL to international destinations at our posted rates. Seller Inventory # 010413
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