This volume takes a focused but multidisciplinary approach to the 'long 18th century,' the two hundred years during which the writers & artists explored, developed, & represented a complex program of modernization or 'Enlightenment.' Covering a period that begins with the revolutionary thought of Thomas Hobbes & the surprising establishment of a Commonwealth government & that ends with the careers of William Wordsworth & LordByron, it includes essays treating the aesthetic & philosophical side of this period of deep social transformation.

This volume takes a focused but multidisciplinary approach to the 'long 18th century,' the two hundred years during which the writers & artists explored, developed, & represented a complex program of modernization or 'Enlightenment.' Covering a period that begins with the revolutionary thought of Thomas Hobbes & the surprising establishment of a commonwealth government & that ends with the careers of William Wordsworth & Lord Byron, it includes essays treating the aesthetic & philosophical side of this period of deep social transformation.

This 32nd volume cites books and articles published during 2006 in sections on printing and bibliographic studies; historical, social, and economic studies; philosophy, science and religion; fine arts; foreign literatures and languages; British literatures; and new world literatures and languages. The fine arts section is divided into general culture studies, art, architecture and gardens, dance, sculpture, music, and theater. Foreign in this case means European besides English: Iberian, French, Italian, German, and Scandinavian. Very few of the entries are annotated, but of those that are, the annotations range in length from a single line to over a page. Only authors of the works cited are indexed. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)