The sixties : cultural revolution in Britain, France, Italy, and the United States, c. 1958-c. 1974

If the World Wars defined the first half of the twentieth century, the sixties defined the second half, providing the pivot on which modern times have turned. From popular music to individual liberties, the tastes and convictions of the Western world are indelibly stamped with the impact of that tumultuous decade. Now one of the world's foremost historians provides the definitive look at this momentous time. Framing the sixties as a period stretching from 1958 to 1974, Arthur Marwick argues that this long decade ushered in nothing less than a cultural revolution--one that raged most clearly in the United States, Britain, France, and Italy. Writing with wit and verve, he brilliantly recaptures the events and movements that shaped our lives: the rise of a youth subculture across the West; the impact of post Beat novels and New Wave cinema; the sit ins and marches of the civil rights movement; Britain's surprising rise to leadership in fashion and music; the emerging storm over Vietnam; the Paris student rising of 1968; the new concern for poverty; the growing force of feminism and the gay rights movement; and much more. As Marwick unfolds his vivid narrative, he illuminates this remarkable era--both its origins and its impact. He concludes that it was a time that saw great leaps forward in the arts, in civil rights, and in many other areas of society and politics. But the decade also left deep divisions still felt today.Written with tremendous force of insight and narrative power, __The Sixties__ promises to be the single most important account of the single most important decade of our times. If the World Wars defined the first half of the twentieth century, the sixties defined the second half, providing the pivot on which modern times have turned. From popular music to individual liberties, the tastes and convictions of the Western world are indelibly stamped with the impact of that tumultuous decade. Now one of the world's foremost historians provides the definitive look at this momentous time. Framing the sixties as a period stretching from 1958 to 1974, Arthur Marwick argues that this long decade ushered in nothing less than a cultural revolution--one that raged most clearly in the United States, Britain, France, and Italy. Writing with wit and verve, he brilliantly recaptures the events and movements that shaped our lives: the rise of a youth subculture across the West; the impact of post Beat novels and New Wave cinema; the sit ins and marches of the civil rights movement; Britain's surprising rise to leadership in fashion and music; the emerging storm over Vietnam; the Paris student rising of 1968; the new concern for poverty; the growing force of feminism and the gay rights movement; and much more. As Marwick unfolds his vivid narrative, he illuminates this remarkable era--both its origins and its impact. He concludes that it was a time that saw great leaps forward in the arts, in civil rights, and in many other areas of society and politics. But the decade also left deep divisions still felt today. Written with tremendous force of insight and narrative power, The Sixties promises to be the single most important account of the single most important decade of our times. If World Wars defined the 1st half of the 20th century, the 60s defined the 2nd, providing the pivot on which modern times have turned. From popular music to individual liberties, the tastes & convictions of the Western world are indelibly stamped with the impact of that tumultuous decade. Now one of the world's foremost historians provides a look at this momentous time. Framing the 60s as a period stretching from '58 to '74, Marwick argues that this long decade ushered in nothing less than a cultural revolution--one that raged most clearly in the USA, UK, France & Italy. Writing with wit & verve, he recaptures the events & movements that shaped lives: the rise of a western youth subculture; the impact of post Beat novels & New Wave cinema; the civil rights movement; Britain's surprising rise to leadership in fashion & music; the emerging storm over Vietnam; the Paris student rising of '68; the new concern for poverty; the growing force of feminism & the gay rights movement etc. As he unfolds his narrative, he illuminates the era, both its origins & its impact. He concludes it was a time that saw great leaps forward in the arts, in civil rights & in other areas of society & politics. But the decade also left deep divisions still felt today. Written with insight & narrative power, The Sixties is an important account of the most important decade of our times. "A monumental study of social and political change in Europe and the United States during this period of cultural revolution. Paying particular attention to the impact of the sixties on the lives of ordinary people, Marwick exposes as myths and caricatures many of the accepted views of the decade." Book Jacket. "A monumental study of social and political change in Europe and the United States during this period of cultural revolution. Paying particular attention to the impact of the sixties on the lives of ordinary people, Marwich exposes as myths and caricatures many of the accepted views of the decade."--Jacket Ranging from politics to the arts to social movements, an eminent English scholar presents a masterful chronicle of the 1960s and the birth of the counterculture in the United States and Europe that balances the period's achievements against its harms. UP.