Paris-edinburgh: Cultural Connections in the Belle Epoque (Historical Urban Studies) (Historical Urban Studies)

By the end of the nineteenth century, Paris was widely acknowledged as the cultural capital of the world, the home of avant-garde music and art, symbolist literature and bohemian culture. Edinburgh, by contrast, may still be thought of as a rather staid city of lawyers and Presbyterian ministers, academics and doctors. While its great days as a centre for the European Enlightenment may have been behind it, however, late Victorian Edinburgh was becoming the location for a new set of cultural institutions, with its own avant-garde, that corresponded with a renewed Scottish national consciousness. While Morningside was never going to be Montparnasse, the period known as the Belle Epoque was a time in both French and Scottish society when there were stirrings of non-conformity, which often clashed with a still powerful establishment. And in this respect, French bourgeois society could be as resistant to change as the suburbs of Edinburgh. With travel and communication becoming ever easier, a growing number of international contacts developed that allowed such new and radical cultural ideas to flourish. In a series of linked essays, based on research into contemporary archives, documents and publications in both countries, as well as on new developments in cultural research, this book explores an unexpected dimension of Scottish history, while also revealing the Scottish contribution to French history. In a broader sense, and particularly as regards gender, it considers what is meant by 'modern' or 'radical' in this period, without imposing any single model. In so doing, it seeks not to treat Paris-Edinburgh links in isolation, or to exaggerate them, but to use them to provide a fresh perspective on the internationalism of the Belle Epoque.

By the end of the nineteenth century, Paris was widely acknowledged as the cultural capital of the world, the home of avant-garde music and art, symbolist literature and bohemian culture. Edinburgh, by contrast, may still be thought of as a rather staid city of lawyers and Presbyterian ministers, academics and doctors. While its great days as a centre for the European Enlightenment may have been behind it, however, late Victorian Edinburgh was becoming the location for a new set of cultural institutions, with its own avant-garde, that corresponded with a renewed Scottish national consciousness.

While Morningside was never going to be Montparnasse, the period known as the Belle Epoque was a time in both French and Scottish society when there were stirrings of non-conformity, which often clashed with a still powerful establishment. And in this respect, French bourgeois society could be as resistant to change as the suburbs of Edinburgh. With travel and communication becoming ever easier, a growing number of international contacts developed that allowed such new and radical cultural ideas to flourish.

In a series of linked essays, based on research into contemporary archives, documents and publications in both countries, as well as on new developments in cultural research, this book explores an unexpected dimension of Scottish history, while also revealing the Scottish contribution to French history. In a broader sense, and particularly as regards gender, it considers what is meant by 'modern' or 'radical' in this period, without imposing any single model. In so doing, it seeks not to treat Paris-Edinburgh links in isolation, or to exaggerate them, but to use them to provide a fresh perspective on the internationalism of the Belle Epoque.

In A Series Of Linked Essays, Based On Research Into Contemporary Archives, Documents And Publications In Both Countries, As Well As On New Developments In Cultural Research, This Book Explores An Unexpected Dimension Of Scottish History, While Also Revealing The Scottish Contribution To French History. In A Broader Sense, And Particularly As Regards Gender, It Considers What Is Meant By 'modern' Or 'radical' In This Period, Without Imposing Any Single Model. In So Doing, It Seeks Not To Treat Paris-edinburgh Links In Isolation, Or To Exaggerate Them, But To Use Them To Provide A Fresh Perspective On The Internationalism Of The Belle Epoque.--jacket. Seine And Forth : Paris And Edinburgh In 1900 -- Stone Cities -- Taking The Boat-train To Montparnasse : Edinburgh Artists In Paris -- Bringing Parisians To Edinburgh : Patrick Geddes's Networks Of Academics, Anarchists, And Artists, 1870s To 1890s -- A Petite Entente? : The Origins Of The Franco-scottish Society -- Professor Geddes Goes To The Fair : The Globe, The Assembly, And The Rue Des Nations At The 1900 Paris Exhibition -- An Entente Cordiale In Publishing, Or A Scottish Victory? : Nelson's French Collection -- New Women, Old Men? Siân Reynolds. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [199]-211) And Index. By the end of the nineteenth century Paris was widely acknowledged as the cultural capital of the world; Edinburgh by contrast may still be thought of as a rather staid city of lawyers and Presbyterian ministers, academics and doctors. Yet despite this apparent cultural opposition, Professor Reynolds argues that in fact both cities shared a number of similar concerns and ideals that were fostered and developed by growing links and international travel. This book seeks not to treat Paris-Edinburgh links in isolation, or to exaggerate them, but to use them to provide a fresh perspective on the i By the end of the 19th century, Paris was widely acknowledged as the cultural capital of the world; Edinburgh, a city of Presbyterian ministers, academics and doctors. This book, based on research into documents and publications, explores an unexpected dimension of Scottish history, while also revealing the Scottish contribution to French history.