Decadence, Degeneration, and the End

"Decadence, Degeneration, and the End: Studies in the European Fin de Siècle provides a multidisciplinary overview of one of the more compelling cultural phenomena of the later nineteenth century. Degeneration and decay, both of bodies and civilizations, as well as illness, death, bizarre sexuality, and general morbidity, all became essential aspects of fin-de-siècle consciousness, manifesting themselves in a wide variety of literary genres, visual art forms and social practices. The studies range from the Mediterranean world to Scandinavia and Russia, with special emphasis on the artists and writers of France and Britain, and on subjects as diverse as Oscar Wilde, August Strindberg, Joris-Karl Huysmans, Aubrey Beardsley, the Nordic Decadents, the perceived decline of Latin civilization, Gabriele D'Annunzio, Max Nordau, Charles Cottet's paintings of mourning widows, Stefan George, the consumptive Russian artist Mariia Iakunchikova, advertising illustrations glorifying morphine addicts, decadent sexological theory, Salome in all of her outrageous incarnations, and the heat-death of the universe"--