Name: From Dawn to Decadence By Jacques Barzun
SKU: 9780007113828
Price: 49.99 AUD
Availability: InStock

From Dawn to Decadence Summary

From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life by Jacques Barzun

The product of the author's lifetime, this powerful narrative, insterrsperses the author's analysis of wars, philosophy, science, manners, sex, religion, morals, art, et al, from the Reformation to the present day, with biographical sketches of influential historical figures. His conclusion is that the decadence of the current age is merely a watershed for a new age in which Western culture will again flourish.

From Dawn to Decadence Reviews

'This astonishing and monumental work may fairly take its place alongside Gibbon, and for much the same array of qualities: a majestic view of five hundred years of history, done in great style, with vast erudition and a continuously entertaining idiosyncrasy of judgement' ALISTAIR COOKE 'To define Western culture is the most delicate and difficult of all operations. Jacques Barzun is one of the most cultivated exemplars of Western civilization and his book contains the experience and the reflection of a lifetime. He tells us not to judge past centuries by our standards and to recognize that, however different, those centuries have made us what we are.' NOEL ANNAN 'Jacques Barzun's summa is the work of a very great historian and of a seer. The phrase from the Bible in apposite: The hearing ear, and the seeing eye is his great gift - and a gift to his readers.' JOHN LUKACS 'From Dawn to Decadence is a personal, witty, learned, bold, and above all wise retrospect of the past half-millennium. One will read it through with mounting interest, and then go back again and again to savour favourite parts of it' GERTRUDE HIMMELFARB

About Jacques Barzun

Jacques Barzun was born in France in 1907 and moved to the US in 1920. After graduating from Columbia University he joined its faculty as Professor of History, becoming Dean of Faculties and Provost. The author of over thirty books he received the Gold Medal for Criticism from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, of which he was twice president.

Additional information

Sku

GOR003481183

ISBN 13

9780007113828

ISBN 10

000711382X

Title

From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life by Jacques Barzun

Author

Jacques Barzun

Condition

Used - Very Good

Binding type

Hardback

Publisher

HarperCollins Publishers

Year published

20010219

Number of pages

896

Prizes

N/A

Cover note

Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.

Note

This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

From Dawn to Decadence Jacques Barzun

From Dawn to Decadence by Jacques Barzun

Summary

From Dawn to Decadence Summary

From Dawn to Decadence: 500 Years of Western Cultural Life by Jacques Barzun

From Dawn to Decadence Reviews

About Jacques Barzun

Additional information

Customer Reviews - From Dawn to Decadence