Extraordinary Aesthetes: Decadents, New Women, and Fin-de-Siecle Culture

The fin de siècle marked a significant turn towards modernism, with literary and visual artists from England, Ireland, and Scotland flourishing in poetry, fiction, and illustration. Extraordinary Aesthetes examines the contributions of established and lesser-known figures, such as Mabel Dearmer and Ella DArcy, and highlights the works of legendary writers like Max Beerbohm, Oscar Wilde, and W.B. Yeats in dialogue with authors who gained prominence during this period.

Format: Hardback
Length: 394 pages
Publication date: 12 April 2023
Publisher: University of Toronto Press

The fin de siècle marked a pivotal moment in history, not only signaling the end of the Victorian era but also heralding a significant shift towards modernism. In this transformative period, a group of extraordinary aesthetes embarked on a critical examination of literary and visual artists from England, Ireland, and Scotland whose careers flourished during the closing years of the nineteenth century. This captivating collection pays particular attention to the remarkable contributions made by artists, poets, and novelists to the vibrant cultural landscape of the late 1880s and 1890s. The essays in this volume shed light on a diverse range of established, increasingly recognized, and lesser-known figures whose contributions to this brief but intensely remarkable cultural period demand close scrutiny. Among these figures is Mabel Dearmer, a talented illustrator whose stunning illustrations grace Evelyn Sharps radical fairy tales for children. Equally noteworthy is Ella DArcy, a pioneering short fiction writer who played a crucial role in editing the most renowned journal of the 1890s, The Yellow Book. The discussion extends to a constellation of legendary writers, including Max Beerbohm, Oscar Wilde, and W.B. Yeats, whose works engage in dialogue with authors who rose to prominence during this dynamic period. Moreover, Extraordinary Aesthetes takes a groundbreaking approach by elevating the voices of women writers, rebalancing the achievements of artists and writers in the rapidly evolving cultural milieu of the fin de siècle.

Weight: 734g
Dimension: 161 x 239 x 33 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781487546083