Introducing Romanticism: A Graphic Guide

Introducing Graphic Guides

by Duncan Heath, Judy Boreham (Illustrator)

Romanticism is crucial to an understanding of modern Western culture. Philosophy, art, literature, music, and politics were all transformed in the turbulent period between the French Revolution of 1789 and the Communist Manifesto of 1848. This was the age of the 'Romantic revolution', when modern attitudes to political and artistic freedom were born. When we think of Romanticism, flamboyant figures such as Byron or Shelley instantly spring to mind, but what about Napoleon or Hegel, Turner or Blake, Wagner or Marx, who also emerged from this great period of turmoil and change?

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, History, Romanticism, Literature, Graphic Novels, Reference

399 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Bionic Jean · Rating 2 out of 5]

Introducing Romanticism is one of a series of over 30 graphic introductions to philosophical, scientific, political and religious movements and their leading exponents. They are handy pocket-sized works, but it is difficult to ascertain at whom they are aimed. The cover is the best illustration in this particular book, although there are very unappealing black pen drawings on every page. Perhaps their amateur feel is intended to give a casual feel, for a young audience. If so, the text is mismatched. Near the beginning we have,

"Instead of "improbable" notions and "false" sensibility, Romanticism came to stand for authenticity, integrity and spontaneity. It was seen as a positive artistic and intellectual assertion of the extremes in the human psyche, the areas of experience beyond logic and reason which could only be expressed in a direct and heartfelt way."

The entire book is written in this textbook style, even to the captions within speech bubbles in each picture. Although it covers a very wide base, the text appears to be a reasonable overview of the topic. It is difficult to say, as there are no chapters, merely headings on each page, or alternate page. There is a 2-side index at the back, which is of limited use in this 176-page book.

Although I found it impossible to read much of this deeply unattractive book, the two stars are for the text, which is packed with facts and cogently, if unmemorably, expressed.

The text is by Duncan Heath; the illustrations by Judy Boreham. Others in the series have different authors. I do wonder how many of these little books are sitting unread on people's shelves, bought in a spirit of, "This looks accessible and fun!" Well, this reader is not tempted to investigate any further.

[Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good read, well illustrated for new readers and students who would like a visual insight into Romanticism. It was simple. I like simple and easy to follow facts and quotes. I would read more of these guides in the future for expanding parts of my knowledge.

[Mohammad Ranjbari · Rating 3 out of 5]

کتابی کمیک با سبکی متفاوت در معرفی جریان عظیم رمانتیسم.
مناسب برای علاقه مندان به مکتب های ادبی
برای شروع کتاب سنگینی هست چون نویسنده منظور دو گانه ای داشته، در کنار جریان شناسی سبک رمانتیسم، تاریخ خرد و نقد ادبی و فلسفه رو هم مدنظر قرار داده

[امیر لطیفی · Rating 4 out of 5]

تنوع موضوعات و حوزه‌هایی که کتاب به آن‌ها سرک می‌کشد، بسیار چشم‌گیر است؛ تاریخ، فلسفه، ادبیات، هنر، مذهب، سیاست، اخلاق و غیره. همچنین صفحات کتاب مملو است از نام‌های بسیار؛ از نویسندگان و فلاسفه گرفته تا هنرمندان، موسیقی‌دانان و سیاستمدارن و غیره. احتمالاً در غیابِ مقداریِ دانش عمومی در هر کدام از این حوزه‌ها، خواننده در میان نام‌ها و موضوعات پرشمار کتاب، تاب می‌خورد و گیج می‌شود. از این بابت، این اثر، یک کتابِ معرفیِ ساده نیست. هم‌زمان چنین تنوعی در مطالب، در ترسیم پهنه‌ی گسترده‌یِ نفوذِ رمانتیسم، موفق عمل کرده.

[Maryam · Rating 4 out of 5]

این مجموعه کتابهای قدم اول واقعا مفید است .من با اینکه فیزیک خوانده ام بعد از دانشگاه کوانتوم این مجموعه خواندنی را خواندم و بسیار لذت بردم

[Mohammad Ali Shamekhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

خوبی این کتاب - و شاید تنها خوبی آن - دادن یک دیدگاه کلی از رومانتیسم در فرانسه، آلمان، انگلیس، آمریکا، ایتالیا و روسیه است. البته ایتالیا و روسیه در حاشیه اند.

امور جزئی چندان مطرح نیستند و صرفا اشاراتی کلی در این کتاب یافته می شود؛ البته جاهایی اشارات جزئی ای آمده که جزئیتشان تعجب برانگیز است ( مثلا در جایی می گه نگاه گوته به طبیعت بعدا در رودلف اشتاینر دوباره مطرح می شه. اشتاینر اسمی نیست که کسی بشنوه به طور عادی در کلاس های تخصصی چه برسه به اینکه در یک کتاب مقدماتی اسمشو ببینه! البته چون من اشتاینرو می شناختم دیدن اسمش برام جالب بود! )

مشکل اول این کتاب ابهام است.من شروع کردم موقع خوندن کتاب اونها رو یادداشت کنم تا اینجا بنویسم اما دیدم تعدادشون زیاده و عملا نمی شه اینجا فهرستشون کرد؛ اما برای نمونه مبحث ذهن و عین در رومانتیسم برای من مبهم موند و معلوم نشد چطوریه. گاهی این ابهام به دلیل سکوت نویسنده و اشاره ی صرف به یک ادعا است. مثلا نویسنده می گه بتهوون گرچه یک نئوکلاسیسته اما در مرز نئوکلاسیسم و رومانتیسم گام بر می داره ( و هیچ اشاره ی صریحی نمی کنه که از چه جهت نئوکلاسیکه و از چه جهت متمایل به رمانتیسم )

مشکل دیگه گسیختگی تاریخی مباحثه. مکرر با رفت و آمد تاریخی مواجهیم و همین سردرگم می کنه آدمو. آدم ها انبوهیشون در نیمه ی اول قرن نوزدهم آثارشون رو نوشتن اما روند کتاب آدمو فریب می ده انگار اینها بعد از کسانی اند که قبل تر ذکرشون رفته. به طور خاص این مشکل وقتی پیش می آد که از کشوری به کشور دیگه می ریم.

دیگر معضلی که در این کتاب وجود داره دامنه ی وسیع و چه بسا مبهم مفهوم رمانتیک در این اثره. خصوصا در پایان کتاب که مسائل سیاسی - سوسیالیسم، مارکسیسم، و ... - وارد قضیه می شن دیگه معیارهایی که نویسنده از اون جهت این ها رو رومانتیک می شمره چندان آشکار نیست - نویسنده هم تصریحی نداره.

چیز دیگه که مشکل این کتاب نیست ولی منو آزار می ده اینه که اصلا تو حافظه ی من نمی مونه! حتی الان هم اغلب مباحثش یادم رفته! خلاصه اینکه این کتاب از اون کتاباییه که آدم باید کنارش باشه و هر چند وقت یک بار برای اینکه یه جرقه ای تو ذهنش بخوره یه نگاهی بهشون بکنه. همین حجم فشرده ی اشاراته که باعث می شد من به سرعت هنگام خوندنش خسته بشم! ( به استثنای قسمت های آخر که ادبی تر و تاریخی ترن )

همه ی این مشکلات به کنار، باید اذعان کنم که چیزهای جذابی در این کتاب بود که ذهن و روح آدم رو برمی انگیخت؛ مثلا الف) ورود به بحث رومانتیسم از طریق بحث امر والا - و مثلا پیوند زدنش با کوه های آلپ و زائران شمال اروپا که سر راه رم از آلپ می گذشتند و متاثر می شدند - ، ب) اهمیت اثر ناتمام هنری و کنایه ی رمانتیک، ج) سیر رمانتیسم از شعف نسبت به طبیعت به سوی ستیز با طبیعت و ...


نتیجه ی نهایی اینکه، این کتاب اثری است که بودنش در کتابخانه ی شخصی برای نگاه های احساسی و ذوقی گاه به گاه خوبه - البته به نظرم اصل انگلیسیش واقعا باید ترجیح داشته باشه هر چند ندیدمش.

[Lucas Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating a book like this seems like a silly thing to do, but I really did enjoy reading this introduction to Romanticism. About a year and a half ago, a night of drinking at my friend Eliot's house resulted in borrowing two older volumes from this series (Existentialism and Walter Benjamin) they seemed cool at the time, but I felt that I had no reason or context to read up on what seemed like a topic I was comfortable with my knowledge of and a topic that seemed unapproachable. (I leave it to you to sort those out.) And they have languished on my bookshelf ever since (E, if you're out there, you can take them back whenever).

Now a high school teacher and not a barista, a desire to explain Marx simply to teenagers led me back to the Introducing series. I purchased the "How to change the Wold," box set consisting of Romanticism, Capitalism, and Marxism about a month ago. I'm a sucker for stuff like this, but I believe there is a great deal of merit in these volumes. Much of Introducing Romanticism was reviewing things I had heard in a stray history class, looked up as a reference in a novel, or talked about briefly in a survey course. This book put them all in a neat order with pretty classy illustrations. These small books feel like extremely well put together PowerPoint presentations, but with more text than you would ever put on a PowerPoint.

I'm not expert on Romanticism now, and a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing. I do feel that I could embark on a deep dive into Penguin Classics with a relative sure footing on the basics. I'm considering reading Stendhal. I might pull Songs of Innocence/Experience off the shelf for the first time in five plus years, and I've been staring at paintings online for a week. Guys, I'm having a great time.

[Jay French · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting in the broad coverage of an era. The book is written as a series of single pages on a topic with a graphic somewhat related to the subject inline. When I checked this out, I expected what I consider typical comic art, but this book was really predominately writing. I found the graphics to be totally unnecessary in that they did not add to the information being presented, beyond one or two examples of paintings. Even though there was literally room for at most a few sentences on a topic, the authors really were able to shoehorn a lot of people into their discussion. After reading this, I feel I know more about that age than I did in the past. I was surprised to see New Harmony, Indiana mentioned right after I thought about it, unexpectedly because the book focused on the Europeans and a few East Coast Americans.

[F. Sadra]

با ترجمه‌ی کامران سپهران، از نشر شیرازه خوندم، گرچه چیز زیادی دستگیرم نشد. اما مقدمه‌ی بدی نبود.

[Castles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book a little too scattered, but still very interesting and I did learn a thing or two. I’m still not sure you’ll get the answer for ‘what is romanticism’ from this book alone.

[Jrobertus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel is a fascinating way to nibble your way to knowledge about Romanticism. That period is often defined as between the French Revolution and the Revolutions of 1848, but it clearly had earlier roots and has repercussions into the present. The enlightenment, Newton, Locke etc clearly impacted science and philosophy, but also elicited a neoclassic response in art, where form appeared to follow natural rules. The enlightenment eliminated many laws of nature but also suggested there were complexities so “sublime” they might never be knowable. Science also brought forth the industrial revolution and that would give a social structure for Romanticism to rebel against. Rousseau was an early Romantic thinker, in touch with himself and nature. The authors put Kant as a Romantic thinker, but it seems forced. Napoleon plays a complicated role at once being a rebel against the old order, and bringing science to the fore, but his suppression of Germanic states figures strongly in the development of Romanticism. The heart of the movement seems to be in Germany, which at the time was a bunch of states. The drive to make a nation with a common language, acceptable history, mythology and culture is seen in lots of Romantic players, Herder, the sturm and Drang movement, Goethe (Young Werther), Schlegel, Hegel, Friedrich, Beethoven, Wagner, and Marx. The English were also important in a less revolutionary way with Keats, Byron, and Shelley. The French were late, but came on strong with Hugo, Stendhal and a raft of painters. America even chipped in its transcendentalist movement with Hawthorne, Thorough and Whitman. The authors do an excellent job of showing the interconnections of these, and other, movements and their impact today, say in deconstructionism.

[Sean Chick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best of the series.

[Avesta · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's an interesting read, albeit a bit heavy. It shouldn't be regarded as an 'introduction' to Romanticism as it instantly delves into the depths of the ideas with minimal to no context, which honestly had me constantly reaching for the dictionary. I also expected the book to discuss romantic art as well, seeing how the cover of the book is a romantic work, but there are only a handful of pages that discusses the art of the period and is mostly heavy philosophical matters.

I believe the author, Duncan Heath, expects you to have a large pre-existing knowledge prior to reading this, since he goes on about certain topics relating to romanticist philosophy without defining the topic of discussion means, and he does this numerous times throughout the book, although he does define a word occasionally.

Some of the illustrations were a tad unnecessary and irrelevant to what was being discussed too.

Wouldn't read again personally, but it might be useful for those who are studying philosophy in higher education and want to learn more about romanticism, and I think the university student crowd is what Heath was aiming for, not the general populace.

[Michael Belcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extraordinary in scope - weaving together Romanticisms in Germany, England, France, Russia, America, and beyond - this wide lens inevitability leads to short shrift when it comes to depth. That being said, although the author patly explains some complex theories in a way that remains bewilderingly obtuse, what seems inscrutable or glided over more often than not comes back later to be linked up and more fully realized. I am not sure if the sloppy, yet somehow endearing sketches adds any further coherence, but I liked having them as a place to rest my eyes and absorb what I’d read. As the kind of pictorial travel guide you might take on a European vacation, this handy overview gives you a taste of the most important aspects of this knotty movement and sends your imagination off in exciting directions for your own further explorations.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m torn on this one, because it’s a wonderful overview of what Romanticism was and wasn’t, but it almost feels a bit too definitional. The focus is very much on the post-Enlightenment role that Romanticism and its active proponents consciously played, but it doesn’t go as deep into those who may have fallen less consciously into Romanticism or its lingering influence. As a movement perhaps it died down after about 1850, but as an approach I would argue it continued on much longer and even ran parallel with modernism into the early 20th century. There are a handful of poets and composers whom I would have always considered to be romantics who weren’t even born until after 1850. Not everyone gets the memo when a movement has officially ended.

[Cathie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was quite fascinated by this but it's at times a tough read. So many different concepts and labels to come to terms with, and covering apparently everything from music, literature and art to science, philosophy and politics. It has reminded me that I wanted to read more Balzac, Walt Whitman, Hawthorne, and (eventually) Moby Dick, as well as return to the English Romantic poets. I also delved into the concept of Socratic questioning. So, good for my brain at least. I agree with the comments about the poor quality of the 'graphics'. I'd love to see this kind of thing accompanied by a chart or timeline to ease my comprehension!

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been a fan of this series of books since I first read “Marx For Beginners” round about 1980. The earlier books are much more graphic novels and more fun to read.
The text for this book was interesting and informative, and the graphic work fine, but there was no real cohesion between the two.
To see the series at it’s best I would suggest starting with Marx, Mao and Freud, and anything that has Oscar Zarate as the illustrator

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much like all the books in this series, Introducing Romanticism does a good job in briefly introducing many pieces of history related to one topic. This book spans from the people and events that inspired the Romantic movement, those involved all the way to those whom the Romantics influenced. If you are looking for a good introduction to various artists from the Romantic era, then this is a great read!

[Confused Hamburger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much more clearer with its information presentation than "Introducing Post-Modernism", but still suffered from a few concepts being poorly-explained when considering this book's target audience: beginners to philosophy. So far, "Introducing Rousseau" has been the most clearest and well-explained book out of this series, but this one wasn't too bad either.

[Jesse Hilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this right after Isaiah Berlin’s Roots of Romanticism was a good chaser to that text. This was a kind of graphic novel with illustrations to highlight the thinkers and trends in “romanticism.” I can tell it was just a rough overview probably intended for undergraduates. But I might as well be one of those!

[Rhomboid Goatcabin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise and readable compendium of the societal backgrounds of Romanticism, highlighting philosophy. Adresses mainly English, German and French Romanticists in a sweeping flurry. Valuable for the big picture.

[Cep Subhan KM · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real introduction. I read the book because I want to know more about Romanticism in literature and this book gives me the additional knowledge about Romanticisim in painting and music too. The illustrations are also visually enjoyable and integrated to the text.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This "Introducing..." series is everything I wanted out of the very short introductions, much more engaging and often more informative

[Kiwi Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - quite dense, but a decent enough introduction to the basic concepts of Romanticism.

[Duygu · Rating 2 out of 5]

İçerik böyle bir kitap için oldukça kapsamlı ama çizimler çok çok özensiz, karakalem karalamalar.

[Amy Ballard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful. Would like to have it in print form.

[Javier Muñoz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imprescindible! Una guia para comenzar a entrar de lleno en la Literatura del Romanticismo.

[Steph De Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another solid entry in the "Graphic Guides" series. It's well-explained, interesting, and packed full of relevant information. I'm a big fan of this series.

[Michelle allan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good intro

I already knew most of this information to be honest however as an introduction to romanticism it does cover all the bases.

[Jen H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow, this was comprehensive — and super academic. Felt like a college survey course, not a graphic novel. Good for the serious student of Romanticism, but not for a novice looking for an overview.