Entartung
Book Description
In this provocative 1892 work, physician and writer Max Nordau presents a sweeping cultural diagnosis of his era, examining what he perceived as widespread spiritual and intellectual decline across European society. Writing from his perspective as both a medical practitioner and keen social observer, Nordau explores themes of exhaustion, hysteria, and moral disorientation that he believed characterized the late nineteenth century.
Nordau's analysis extends beyond conventional social criticism to encompass the realm of art and literature, where he identifies patterns of what he terms cultural degeneration. His examination includes prominent figures such as Nietzsche, Oscar Wilde, Ibsen, Tolstoy, Wagner, Zola, and Walt Whitman, viewing their work through the lens of his theories about societal decline.
This substantial work anticipates later psychological approaches to understanding creativity and culture, offering insights into the relationship between artistic expression and mental states. Nordau's perspective provides a window into fin de siècle anxieties about civilization, progress, and human nature.
For contemporary readers interested in understanding how societies grapple with questions of moral and spiritual direction, this text offers a fascinating historical perspective on cultural criticism. While Nordau's specific conclusions may reflect the concerns of his time, his broader questions about the health of civilization and the role of art in society remain relevant for those exploring the intersection of culture, psychology, and human development.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Long (> 400 pages) (~16 hours)
📄 Length: 566 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Vie intellectuelle
- ✓ Explore Literary Criticism
- ✓ Explore Pre-Raphaelites
- ✓ Explore Degeneration
- ✓ Explore Europe, intellectual life
- ✓ Explore Comparative Literature
- ✓ Explore mystical experiences
- ✓ Explore Symbolism in literature
