The Age of Romanticism

Intimately tied to the tenets of the Enlightenment, Romanticism arose as a sort of reaction to that trend, most noticeably in the arts. The movement, which originated in Europe in the late 18th century and lasted until the mid- 19th century, focused on emotion, imagination, an attachment to nature, nostalgia, and spirituality. The art, music and literature produced by that period have been some of history’s most influential, and the tenets of the movement spilled over into politics, especially in nationalistic causes. This accessibly written volume is rounded out by primary source documents, biographies of key figures, and a selected bibliography of print and nonprint sources—an ideal resource for students being introduced to the philosophies, works, and artists of the era.

Intimately tied to the tenets of the Enlightenment, Romanticism arose as a sort of reaction to that trend, most noticeably in the arts. The movement, which originated in Europe in the late 18th century and lasted until the mid-19th century, focused on emotion, imagination, an attachment to nature, nostalgia, and spirituality. The art, music and literature produced by the period have been some of history’s most influential, and the tenets of the movement spilled over into politics, especially in nationalistic causes.

This accessibly written volume explores the most critical aspects of the Romantic movement, including its origins as a reaction to the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment, its artistic works—poetry, prose, drama, painting, and music—and its environmentalistic and nationalistic legacies. Primary source documents, biographies of key figures, and a selected bibliography of print and nonprint sources make this work an ideal reference source for students and general readers being introduced to the philosophies, works, and artists of the era.

Author Biography

JOANNE SCHNEIDER is Associate Professor of History and current department chair at Rhode Island College, Providence, Rhode Island. She is co-editor of Women in Western European History (Greenwood 1986). She is currently working on a project involving welfare and religion in Bavaria from 1790 to 1830.