Bohemia has been variously defined as a mythical country, a state
of mind, a tavern by the wayside on the road of life. The editors
of this volume prefer a leaner definition: an attitude of dissent
from the prevailing values of middle-class society, one dependent
on the existence of caf life. But whatever definition is preferred,
this rich and long overdue collective portrait of Bohemian life in
a large variety of settings is certain to engage and even entrance
readers of all types: from the student of culture to social
researchers and literary figures n search of their ancestral roots.
The work is international in scope and social scientific in
conception. But because of the special nature of the Bohemian
fascination, the volume is also graced by an unusually larger
number of exquisite literary essays. Hence, one will find in this
anthology writings by Malcolm Cowely, Norman Podhoretz, Norman
Mailer, Theophile Gautier, Honore de Balzac, Mary Austin, Stefan
Zweig, Nadine Gordimer, and Ernest Hemingway. Social scientists are
well represented by Cesar Grana, Ephraim Mizruchi, W.I. Thomas,
Florian Znaniecki, Harvey Zorbaugh, John R. Howard, and G. William
Domhoff, among others.
The volume is sectioned into major themes in the history of
Bohemia: social and literary origins, testimony by the
participants, analysis by critics of and crusaders for the bohemian
life, the ideological characteristics of the bohemians, and the
long term prospect as well as retrospect for bohemenianism as a
system, culture and ideology. The editors have provided a framework
for examining some fundamental themes in social structure and
social deviance: What are the levels of toleration within a
society? Do artists deserve and receive special treatment by the
powers that be? And what are the connections between bohemian
life-styles and political protest movements?
This is an anthology and not a treatise, so the reader is free to
pick and choose not only what to read, but what sort of general
patterns are essential and which are transitional. This collection,
initiated by the late Cesar Grana, has been completed and brought
to fruition by his wife Marigay Grana.
Cesar Grana was, prior to his death, professor of sociology at the
University of California in San Diego. Among his major books is
"Meaning and Authenticity," also available from Transaction.
Marigay Grana was formerly an urban planner and designer in San
Diego. She now is a free-lance editor living in Santa Fe, New
Mexico.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
