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 [0xc00045d770 0xc000077fb0 0xc000249620 0xc00025fe00 0xc000259170 0xc0002fab10 0xc0004d4d50 0xc0004d4f00 0xc0004d5020 0xc00020dfb0 0xc0004ccea0 0xc0004f5da0 0xc0005813b0 0xc000581da0 0xc0005b6ab0 0xc0000ea9f0 0xc000166780 0xc0001ac3c0 0xc00074e840 0xc000779500 0xc000806030 0xc00022d8f0 0xc0003c79b0 0xc0003c7e90 0xc00040e870 0xc00040edb0 0xc00040ef90 0xc00040f470 0xc000548360 0xc000554ae0 0xc000a9b200 0xc0005708a0 0xc00065df80 0xc000e41860 0xc000e90930 0xc000157b60 0xc0005c6ae0 0xc00082d590 0xc000e5c180 0xc000e5dbf0 0xc0010048d0 0xc0001ffb30 0xc00054c450 0xc000602f30 0xc000618180 0xc000bc43c0 0xc000ce72c0 0xc000edcc30 0xc001006270 0xc0014b5a40 0xc00031fa10 0xc00041b0b0 0xc000466480 0xc000587470 0xc0010fcc60 0xc0015d5230 0xc000cec4b0 0xc0011e0120 0xc0012b0c00 0xc001318810 0xc001319b90 0xc0013fbd40 0xc0005af590 0xc0009a3860 0xc001db2c30 0xc001eec1b0 0xc001eed110 0xc0026cf0e0 0xc0024ac5d0 0xc0024acc60 0xc0024ae540 0xc0024b62a0 0xc0024b7620 0xc0001ec180 0xc0009d9bf0 0xc0009eca80 0xc0009ed3e0 0xc000ae53b0 0xc0011fb5c0 0xc0018dd830 0xc001f1c600 0xc001fdfc20 0xc0022f05a0 0xc00284bda0 0xc00285c810 0xc0028c0450 0xc0028e83c0] 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