Customer Reviews

Romanticism: An Oxford Guide (Oxford Guides)

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Roe's "Romanticism" reveals one of the most politically, artistically and socially influential periods of our time. The Romantic Period.

The book is more than a reference source for Arts students. It reveals and explores a unique time when the written word defeated tyrants, when poetry and philosophy overthrew governments, and where from such upheaval was born the implementation of compassion for mankind, the birth of human rights and the expression of intimate love. Molds were broken, conventions shattered, personal feelings and passions were shouted aloud in the name of freedom and love.

Roe's comprehensive collection provides a uniquely holistic political and socio-cultural context for those who wish to understand what happened in that extraordinary period between mid-1700 and mid-1800 and why it happened.

Few books on Romanticism cover more than the poetry and writings of a few key personalities, sticking mainly to British writers. "Romanticism" covers, in good amounts of detail, the spectrum of human activity for the period, from political and social change to religion, science, philosophy and art. The book covers the influences of that period on consequent socieities, right up to today, exploring beyond Britain to Europe and the Americas.

The book is well written, for the novice or student, historian or scientist, by experts in the field. The chapters flow well, should the reader wish to read from front to back.

In conclusion, Roe has produced a book that will be cherished by its readers.

Unless you already have the Oxford Romanticism anthology (whatever it's called), this book is quite useless since most of the references in the essays are to in the entries in the anthology. Perhaps, paired with the anthology, it would be OK.