The Brown Decades (Masterplots, Definitive Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Lewis Mumford
- First Published: 1931
- Type of Work: Cultural history
- Genres: Criticism, Nonfiction, History
- Subjects: Culture, Nineteenth century, Civil War, Naturalists, Architecture or architects, Engineering, Buildings
Critical Evaluation:
THE BROWN DECADES is a study of the building arts in America between 1865 and 1895. It is based on the assumption that these years were the autumn period of American civilization; that they followed the brief “renaissance” summer which was ended by the Civil War. Mr. Mumford begins by asserting that the prevailing style of life in this period was not conducive to the arts. The old style of life, which was quiet, ordered, and based on a nonindustrial culture, gave way to a new one dominated by business and production. This change endowed the...
[The entire page is 1389 words long]
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