Age of Extremes
The Short Twentieth Century 1914 - 1991

Hobsbawm, Eric

Publisher: Abacus, London, United Kingdom
Year First Published: {138 Age of Extremes AGE OF EXTREMES The Short Twentieth Century 1914 - 1991 Hobsbawm, Eric Abacus London United Kingdom A overview of the history of the years 1914 - 1991. 1994 1997 627pp $19.95 B Book 0-349-10671-1 Hobsbawm gives his personal interpretation of the political events of the twentieth century. He cuts his time line down to include only the years between 1914 and 1991, hence the subtitle 'The Short Twentieth Century'. There is a great deal of focus on the ideologies at play and their influence on the events. The analysis of the past is used in Hobsbawm's conclusion that the future must change course. The Age of Extremes is over, and capitalism cannot survive much longer. The history is constructed and dissected in a chronological order. There is a division around the end of the old colonial system and beginning of the Cold War Era. Part 1 is called the Age of Catastrophe and Part 2 is The Golden Age. The two sections include revealing photographs of the events and government propaganda to support Hobsbawm's allegations. Each chapter begins with a few quotations from writers, historians, philosophers and anthropologists. One purpose of this book is to show that the destruction of society is yet to come. Hobsbawm advocates a restructuring of society to steer away from the tragedies of the twentieth century. In order to change society for the better, capitalism must be overthrown. The book chronicles the history of socialism and urges its revival. "The future cannot be a continuation of the past." Capitalism can easily continue on, according to Hobsbawm, but if it does, it will destroy society. [Abstract by Mia Manns] Table of Contents Illustrations Preface and Acknowledgements The Century: A Bird's Eye View Part I: The Age of Catastrophe 1. The Age of Total War 2. The World Revolution 3. Into the Economic Abyss 4. The Fall of Liberalism 5. Against the Common Enemy 6. The Arts 1914-45 7. End of Empires Part II: The Golden Age 8. Cold War 9. The Golden Years 10. The Social Revolution 1945-1990 11. Cultural Revolution 12. The Third World 13. "Real Socialism" Part III: The Landslide 14. The Crisis Decades 15. Third World and Revolution 16. End of Socialism 17. The Avant-garde Dies - The Arts After 1950 18. Sorcerers and Apprentices - The Natural Sciences 19. Towards the Millennium References Further Reading Index CX9277 1 true true false CX9277.htm [0xc000c7af00 0xc000d5c5d0 0xc000e0e0f0 0xc000e249c0 0xc001149440 0xc0011b5200 0xc00123f770 0xc00123f920 0xc00123fa40 0xc0013c10e0 0xc00159aae0 0xc0015c3e00 0xc0015d94d0 0xc0015d9ef0 0xc001618f00 0xc0022c32c0 0xc0022d91d0 0xc0022eee70 0xc0000d8b10 0xc0000edbf0 0xc0000fc750 0xc0002b2ff0 0xc00031b530 0xc00031ba10 0xc00032e3f0 0xc00032e930 0xc00032eb10 0xc00032f020 0xc0000dfad0 0xc0000f4f60 0xc000510f60 0xc000337c20 0xc00047bc80 0xc00084a690 0xc000889890 0xc0001c9500 0xc000332f30 0xc000562660 0xc000a40d80 0xc000a5e840 0xc000a917d0 0xc000c3c6f0 0xc0002cdce0 0xc0003a2ab0 0xc0003a3ce0 0xc00067a810 0xc000739950 0xc0008dbad0 0xc000cc0060 0xc00022cae0 0xc00048ccc0 0xc0004b8480 0xc0004b99b0 0xc000556b40 0xc000eba8a0 0xc000f77a70 0xc0006caa50 0xc000cefe90 0xc000e80c60 0xc000f34900 0xc000f35d40 0xc0010b81e0 0xc00035d680 0xc0007eec00 0xc001d8e6c0 0xc001ebe000 0xc001ebf020 0xc000262b70 0xc0004ae3f0 0xc0004aeb10 0xc0004ea420 0xc00051a3f0 0xc00051b770 0xc0006b8720 0xc000f1fef0 0xc000f4ee70 0xc000f4f860 0xc0011c8090 0xc001626f00 0xc001c5e840 0xc0023251a0 0xc00271d020 0xc0028def00 0xc0024be4e0 0xc0024beff0 0xc00217fe60 0xc0024f3f50] Cx}
Year Published: 1997
Pages: 627pp Price: $19.95 ISBN: 0-349-10671-1
Resource Type: Book
Cx Number: CX9277

A overview of the history of the years 1914 - 1991.

Abstract:
Hobsbawm gives his personal interpretation of the political events of the twentieth century. He cuts his time line down to include only the years between 1914 and 1991, hence the subtitle 'The Short Twentieth Century'. There is a great deal of focus on the ideologies at play and their influence on the events. The analysis of the past is used in Hobsbawm's conclusion that the future must change course. The Age of Extremes is over, and capitalism cannot survive much longer.

The history is constructed and dissected in a chronological order. There is a division around the end of the old colonial system and beginning of the Cold War Era. Part 1 is called the Age of Catastrophe and Part 2 is The Golden Age. The two sections include revealing photographs of the
events and government propaganda to support Hobsbawm's allegations. Each chapter begins with a few quotations from writers, historians, philosophers and anthropologists.

One purpose of this book is to show that the destruction of society is yet to come. Hobsbawm advocates a restructuring of society to steer away from the tragedies of the twentieth century. In order to change society for the better, capitalism must be overthrown. The book chronicles the history of socialism and urges its revival. "The future cannot be a continuation of the past." Capitalism can easily continue on, according to Hobsbawm, but if it does, it will destroy society.

[Abstract by Mia Manns]

Table of Contents

Illustrations
Preface and Acknowledgements
The Century: A Bird's Eye View

Part I: The Age of Catastrophe
1. The Age of Total War
2. The World Revolution
3. Into the Economic Abyss
4. The Fall of Liberalism
5. Against the Common Enemy
6. The Arts 1914-45
7. End of Empires

Part II: The Golden Age
8. Cold War
9. The Golden Years
10. The Social Revolution 1945-1990
11. Cultural Revolution
12. The Third World
13. "Real Socialism"

Part III: The Landslide
14. The Crisis Decades
15. Third World and Revolution
16. End of Socialism
17. The Avant-garde Dies - The Arts After 1950
18. Sorcerers and Apprentices - The Natural Sciences
19. Towards the Millennium

References
Further Reading
Index

Age of ExtremesThe Short Twentieth Century 1914 - 1991

Subject Headings

Age of Extremes
The Short Twentieth Century 1914 - 1991