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Magnificent Rebels
The First Romantics and the Invention of the Self
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Check link for latest rating. ( 2,229 ratings, 337 reviews)
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Magnificent Rebels
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See moreFrom the Costa Prize-winning author of The Invention of Nature, Magnificent Rebels is a riveting, eye-opening biography of the first Romantics: a revolutionary group of friends based in the small German town of Jena whose modern ideas transformed society and the way we lead our lives today
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Description
A witty, gossipy, sparkling history, full of bright jewels of anecdote... Magnificent Rebels is a triumph THE TIMES, Book of the Week
Extraordinary... A thrilling intellectual history that reads like a racy, intelligent novel, with a cast of unforgettable characters SUNDAY TIMES
Magnificent Rebels is a magnificent book: a revelation which could easily become an obsession SPECTATOR
A thrilling page-turner, by turns comical & tragic... My book of the year so far TOM HOLLAND
Elegantly written, deeply researched and totally gripping SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIORE
In the 1790s, an extraordinary group of friends changed the world. Disappointed by the French Revolution's rapid collapse into tyranny, what they wanted was nothing less than a revolution of the mind. The rulers of Europe had ordered their peoples how to think and act for too long. Based in the small German town of Jena, through poetry, drama, philosophy, and science, they transformed the way we think about ourselves and the world around us. They were the first Romantics.
Their way of understanding the world still frames our lives and being. We're still empowered by their daring leap into the self. We still think with their minds, see with their imagination, and feel with their emotions. We also still walk the same tightrope between meaningful self-fulfilment and destructive narcissism, between the rights of the individual and our role as a member of our community and our responsibilities towards future generations who will inhabit this planet.
This extraordinary group of friends changed our world. It is impossible to imagine our lives, thoughts, and understanding without the foundation of their ground-breaking ideas.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Andrea Wulf's Magnificent Rebels has received enthusiastic reviews for its engaging and vibrant portrayal of the German Romantic era's intellectuals. Critics have praised it as a fun, gossipy, yet insightful read that feels alive with the energy of the period. Wulf's meticulous research and storytelling bring to life the intellectual and emotional dynamics of the "Jena Set," making complex historical figures and their ideas accessible and captivating.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781529392760
Publisher: John Murray Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 25 May 2023
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: John Murray Publishers Ltd
Illustration: 20 colour photographs/30 B&W photographs and line drawings
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 40.0mm
Width: 130.0mm
Height: 196.0mm
Weight: 380g
Pages: 512
About the Author
Andrea Wulf was born in India, moved to Germany as a child, and now lives in England. She is the author of several acclaimed books, including the Costa prize-winning biography of Alexander Humboldt, The Invention of Nature. The Brother Gardeners won the American Horticultural Society Book Award and was long-listed for the Samuel Johnson Prize. Her book Founding Gardeners was on the New York Times bestseller list. Andrea has written for many newspapers including the Guardian, LA Times and New York Times. She was the Eccles British Library Writer in Residence 2013 and a three-time fellow of the International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello. She appears regularly on TV and radio.
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