Degeneration

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Nordau, Max Simon, 1849-1923

Standardized Title:

Entartung. English

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Degeneration" by Max Simon Nordau is a scientific publication written in the late 19th century. The work explores the concept of degeneration within society, particularly in the realms of art and literature, arguing that many modern artistic and literary figures exemplify traits commonly associated with mental and moral decline. Nordau aims to critique the prevailing artistic movements of his time, analyzing the characteristics of their creators and the potential impact on society as a whole. The opening of the book sets a scholarly tone, dedicating the work to Cæsar Lombroso and establishing a foundation for the investigation of degeneracy, particularly in connection to the fin-de-siècle mentality. Nordau introduces the term "fin-de-siècle" as a reflection of the period's anxiety and confusion, presenting it as a sign of societal decay and impending doom. He posits that this mood is symptomatic of a broader decline, manifesting in the behaviors, fashions, and artistic expressions of the day. The narrative suggests that these manifestations are rooted in psychological conditions such as hysteria and moral insanity, urging readers to recognize the deeper implications of the cultural trends they might otherwise admire. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Giovanni Fini, David Edwards and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

Notes:

Reading ease score: 57.7 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.

Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degeneration_(Nordau)

Release date is 2016-02-09