The Eighteen Nineties by Holbrook Jackson [Paperback]

Description

Published by Pelican Books, this Pelican Books paperback is “a review of the art and the ideas at the close of the nineteenth century”.

“The Eighteen Nineties” by Holbrook Jackson is a comprehensive and fascinating exploration of one of the most culturally and artistically rich decades in British history. Published in 1922, the book offers a vivid and evocative portrait of the artistic and literary movements that flourished during the 1890s, as well as the political and social upheavals that shaped the era.

The book is divided into four parts, each of which focuses on a different aspect of the decade. The first part, entitled “The Decadent Movement,” examines the literary and artistic movement that came to define the 1890s. Jackson traces the origins of the movement, exploring its connections to the aestheticism of the 1870s and 1880s, and its evolution into a more flamboyant and decadent style in the 1890s. He discusses the work of key figures such as Oscar Wilde, Aubrey Beardsley, and Ernest Dowson, and explores the themes and motifs that characterized their art and literature.

The second part of the book, entitled “The New Journalism,” looks at the emergence of a new form of journalism during the 1890s. Jackson explores the role played by publications such as The Yellow Book and The Savoy in shaping the literary and cultural landscape of the decade, and examines the work of influential journalists such as George Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells, and Arthur Symons.

The third part of the book, entitled “The Irish Literary Renaissance,” looks at the role played by Ireland in the cultural and political upheavals of the 1890s. Jackson explores the work of key Irish writers such as W.B. Yeats, Lady Gregory, and J.M. Synge, and examines the political and social context in which their work emerged. He discusses the impact of the Irish Literary Theatre on the wider cultural landscape of the decade, and examines the ways in which Irish literature helped to shape the identity of the nation.

The final part of the book, entitled “The 1890s in Retrospect,” offers a broader reflection on the legacy of the decade. Jackson examines the ways in which the cultural and artistic movements of the 1890s paved the way for the modernist movements of the early 20th century, and explores the lasting impact of the decade on British culture and society.

Throughout the book, Jackson writes with a passion and a flair that is infectious. His prose is lyrical and evocative, bringing to life the people and places that shaped the 1890s. He has a keen eye for detail, and his descriptions of the art, literature, and culture of the era are vivid and immersive.

But what really sets “The Eighteen Nineties” apart is Jackson’s ability to place the cultural and artistic movements of the decade in their wider historical context. He is acutely aware of the political and social upheavals that shaped the era, and he shows how these upheavals gave rise to the cultural and artistic movements of the 1890s. He also has a deep understanding of the broader cultural trends that were at work in the era, and he shows how these trends influenced the artistic and literary movements of the decade.

Overall, “The Eighteen Nineties” is a wonderful book that offers a fascinating and immersive portrait of one of the most important decades in British cultural history. It is a book that will appeal to anyone with an interest in the arts, literature, or history, and it is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the cultural and artistic movements that shaped the modern world.