The fin de siecle, the period 1880-1914, long associated with decadence and with the literary movements of aestheticism and symbolism, has received renewed critical interest recently. This book introduces fin de siecle cultural studies and commentates on aspects of current critical debate.

The fin de siècle, the period 1880-1914, long associated with decadence and with the literary movements of aestheticism and symbolism, has received renewed critical interest recently. The essays in this volume form a valuable introduction to fin de siècle cultural studies and provide a commentary on important aspects of current critical debate and the place of culture in society.

"Pykett's book is a valuable contribution to the study of late-Victorian fictions. Taken together, the essays constitute a varied, interdisciplinary synopsis of the cultural history of the fin de siecle, and they introduce scholar and student alike to the tenets and methods of important critical approaches to fiction." - European Messenger