The Modern Temper: A History of Western Culture, 1890-1930

FAIN: RO-11583-73

Yale University (New Haven, CT 06510-1703)
Peter J. Gay (Project Director: February 1973 to present)

To describe and analyze the cultural upheaval of Western civilization which occurred between 1890 and 1930. Whereas it has been customary to isolate the artists and writers from the rest of the life of the mind, and to characterize the movement as "the revolt of culture against its culture," P.I. proposes to amend and enlarge the characterization by connecting the artists with the scientists and thinkers of their day, and by delineating the relationshiop of this more comprehensively conceived "modern movement" with the rest of its culture. The first step is to see where the movement started. Hence, P.I. proposes to write an analysis of Western civilization as it stood ca. 1890.