European RC #2

I read this book for the European Reading Challenge 2019.

The Vertigo Years: Europe, 1900-1914- Philipp Blom

Blom’s thesis is the familiar idea that the 20th century started with WWI is wrong. While the war brought forward many phenomena we associate with our clamorous, roiled 20^th century, important elements were in fact at play before the war started in 1914. For instance, anxiety about sex, gender roles, neurasthenia, the militarization and industrialization of society, and the sense that the old traditions were being discarded with nothing to take their place – all these topics made people, especially thinking ones like us hardcore readers, nervous about themselves, their own, and the world.

Blom’s method is to examine the first ten years of the 20^th century without reference to WWI. The main attraction of this book are the mini-biographies of figures in literature, journalism, the arts, and fringe belief systems. They didn’t know the war was coming, nor did they know how destructive to life and property the war would be. His method really brings out how important women’s activism was in getting the vote, their growing expectations about working outside their homes, not to mention the generally sad reaction of males – such as militarism and ridicule of the women’s movement.

The first three-quarters of the book employ an excellent narrative, though the last quarter has a more serious tone and is thus a little less readable. However, the treatment of eugenics is extremely informative. Basically, this is the kind of book that adds to cultural literacy, for readers who’ve heard of but don’t know much about Father Gapon, Madam Blavatsky, or Arthur Schnitzler. Readers looking for background to the Tietjens Saga (here and here) would enjoy this book.