This is cultural history of the first order; and it is liberal and humane history at its very best.―David Cannadine An essential work for anyone who wishes to understand the social history of the nineteenth century; Schnitzler's Century is the culmination of Peter Gay's thirty-five years of scholarship on bourgeois culture and society. Using Arthur Schnitzler; the sexually emboldened Viennese playwright; as his master of ceremonies; Gay offers a brilliant reexamination of the hundred-year period that began with the defeat of Napoleon and concluded with the conflagration of 1914. This is a defining work by one of America's greatest historians. 12 b/w illustrations.
#171997 in Books 1997-10-17Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.30 x 1.10 x 5.60l; .77 #File Name: 0393317080384 pages
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Reality and symbolBy Steven D. LivengoodPainter makes unique recognition of the fact that Sojourner Truth was a self-created identity; and approaches her story through many layers: what do we know? We cannot know as much about Sojourner Truth as we can about other historic figures because Sojourner herself was illiterate. A unique figure -- an orator of historic power; but unable to write or in other ways preserve her own words. All that we can know is what other people wrote or quoted. Yet the written sources disagree: they quote her in black dialect that witnesses say she did not use! People hailed her as a uniquely talented African-born slave; when in fact she was born in New York speaking Dutch as her first language. She lived among African Americans only for short periods late in her life. Her own posed and widely-distributed photographs show only her black skin to differentiate her from any other middle-class matron.So what is truth? Who is Truth? Is this person Isabella Van Wagenen; or is she really the myth she created. Painter recognizes these layers and sorts out Truth from myth and truth from reality; without concluding that one is more important than the other. Very well done.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Beyond the SymbolBy Constant ReaderNell Painter's unconventional biography of Sojourner Truth made me see how little I knew about the slave Isabella; born in upstate New York; who became a charismatic speaker for abolitionist and suffragist causes. One astonishing revelation was Sojourner's reliance on extreme religious faiths to keep her soul together. Another revelation; at least for me; was that she never learned to read and write.From Harriet Beecher Stowe to leftists of the 1950s; Sojourner's legend was shaped by those who decided they knew what was best for public consumption. Painter has done a magisterial job in presenting this remarkable woman in all her complexities.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Sojourner TruthBy ZoraI'm glad that I picked this biography between another of Nell Irvin Painters biography of Sojourner Truth. Painter has certainly done her history and research on Sojourner to create this wonderful insightful biography. I am also reading Harriet Tubman's biography and am finding similarities between her biography and Sojourners since they are both portrayed as masculine and take action as apart of fighting a cause. Both were poor but have become iconic figures within American history. This is a great enlightening read about Sojourner shedding light on relatively unknown aspects of her life and that of her children. Great historical read very insightful for anyone interested in such an iconic figure. Definitely read if you are interested; and its at a great low price.
