Belle Epoque: A Cultural History, Paris and Beyond

The "Belle Époque" was a romanticized period in French culture, characterized by joie de vivre, fanfare, and frills. This book explores how and why it became a cultural myth, revealing the century-long need to reinvent and sanctify this moment. It examines images from memoirs, literature, film, art, and history to explore the many facets of the era, including its worldwide reception.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 264 pages
\n Publication date: 06 July 2021
\n Publisher: Columbia University Press
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The years preceding the First World War have been long celebrated as a pinnacle of French culture, often referred to as the "Belle Époque." This era is seen as a symbol of a lost way of life that remains emblematic of the French identity. In a wide array of texts and images, it is portrayed as a carefree time filled with joy, celebration, extravagance, artistic audacity, and scientific innovation. The Moulin Rouge, the Universal Exposition, the works of Toulouse-Lautrec, the presence of Marie Curie, and the invention of automatic writing by Fantômas all contributed to the vibrant atmosphere of the Belle Époque.

This book delves into the creation and perpetuation of the Belle Époque as a cultural myth. Dominique Kalifa sheds light on the enduring desire to reinvent and sanctify this period, spanning a century. He explores various aspects of the era through a meticulous examination of images found in memoirs, reminiscences, literature, film, art, and history. The Belle Époque originated in France, but it quickly spread worldwide as other countries adopted the concept to write their own histories. Kalifa's work also offers a nuanced meditation on time, history, and memory, shedding light on how the Belle Époque has been celebrated and reimagined throughout the years.

\n Weight: 394g\n
Dimension: 152 x 227 x 18 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780231202091\n \n