Welcome to Litsy!

The author admits in the first chapter that fascism is difficult to define and that different characteristics will be emphasised depending on what definition one chooses. The characteristics he chooses to highlight have some uncomfortable resonances this year (2025) considering this book dates from 2014. ⬇

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“It‘s most direct successor in modern French literature may be Baudelaire‘s post-romantic” Fleurs du mal”. It was only a few years after “The Regrets” that the wars of religion between varying factions of Protestants and Catholics (1562-98) profoundly changed French culture and set the stage for the more highly structured and often less personal literature of the 17th century”.

Building + Culture = Architecture.

The author takes some buildings he sees as iconic (emphasising this is a personal choice which would be different for somebody from a different cultural background) and how the cultural meanings they accumulate make them architecturally significant. An interesting book which could be improved with better pictures as the photos don't really illustrate the points the author is making.

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The author takes a historical approach showing what problems with a Newtonian-based view quantum theory was reacting to and then how it has developed over the years. The easiest parts of the maths involved are relegated to an appendix, although the author stresses that it's impossible to fully understand the theory without the maths. Even in this stripped down form I was struggling but I think I did get glimmers of understanding here and there.

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DNF I read the introduction and the first chapter and realised I had not understood a word of it despite no technical musical terms having been used at all.

After a quick run down through the life (which we don't know much about (but more than I thought)), the author looks at Elizabethan theatre and the poems, then takes us through WS's output, play by play. A short final chapter looks at WS's influence and reputation. The descriptions of the plays were too short to be useful unless you already knew the play. I think this could have been shortened and more time spent on the final chapter.