Publisher Description

Although primarily known as an eminent historian of Russia, Nicholas Riasanovsky has been a longtime student of European Romanticism. In this book, Riasanovsky offers a refreshing and appealing new interpretation of Romanticism's goals and influence. He searches for the origins of the dazzling vision that made the great early Romantic poets in England and Germany--Wordsworth, Coleridge, Novalis, and Friedrich Schlegel--look at the world in a new way. He stressesthat Romanticism was produced only by Western Christian civilization, with its unique view of humankind's relationship to God. The Romantic's frantic and heroic striving after unreachable goals mirrorsChristian beliefs in human inability to adequately address God, speak to God, or praise God. Further, Riasanovsky argues that Romantic thought had important political implications, playing a key role in the rise of nationalism in Europe. Offering a historical examination of an area often limited to literary analysis, this book gracefully makes a larger historical statement about the nature and centrality of European Romanticism.

Author Biography

Riasanovsky is one of the foremost Russian historians. Nicholas is Sidney Hellman Ehrman Professor of European History at the University of California, Berkeley.

Review

"A stimulating and satisfying contribution to European intellectual history."--American Historical Review"The study would make a fine textbook for students of romanticism and comparative literature...German scholars will appreciate the numerous bibliographical references."--German Studies Review

Long Description

Although primarily known as an eminent historian of Russia, Nicholas Riasanovsky has been a longtime student of European Romanticism. In this book, Riasanovsky offers a refreshing and appealing new interpretation of Romanticism's goals and influence. He searches for the origins of the dazzling vision that made the great early Romantic poets in England and Germany--Wordsworth, Coleridge, Novalis, and Friedrich Schlegel--look at the world in a new way. He stresses
that Romanticism was produced only by Western Christian civilization, with its unique view of humankind's relationship to God. The Romantic's frantic and heroic striving after unreachable goals mirrors Christian beliefs in human inability to adequately address God, speak to God, or praise God. Further,
Riasanovsky argues that Romantic thought had important political implications, playing a key role in the rise of nationalism in Europe. Offering a historical examination of an area often limited to literary analysis, this book gracefully makes a larger historical statement about the nature and centrality of European Romanticism.

Review Text

"A stimulating and satisfying contribution to European intellectual history."--American Historical Review
"The study would make a fine textbook for students of romanticism and comparative literature...German scholars will appreciate the numerous bibliographical references."--German Studies Review
"A stimulating and satisfying contribution to European intellectual history."--American Historical Review
"The study would make a fine textbook for students of romanticism and comparative literature...German scholars will appreciate the numerous bibliographical references."--German Studies Review

Review Quote

"The study would make a fine textbook for students of romanticism andcomparative literature...German scholars will appreciate the numerousbibliographical references."--German Studies Review

Details