Jacob Burckhardt

As a rule, an author's correspondence possesses only a secondary interest, but Jacob Burckhardt's letters are of primary interest to students of history because of the nature of the man and of his major writings. It was in his letters, rather than in his lectures or longer works, that Burckhardt most directly addressed the currents of intellectual thought and social and political order-or disorder-of Europe in the nineteenth century. Not only are the letters addressed. to some of the most important thinkers of the time (Nietzsche, Burckhardt's younger colleague at the University of Basel, among them), but also they address some of the most pressing issues and the most important personages of the era. As the translator notes, the "letters, written from 1838 to 1897, have a lightness of touch, an informality and humor, and a breadth of vision that make one realize why he was the most civilized historian of his century. Their contents range across a vast field of interests. Art architecture, history, poetry, music, religion--all stirred him to contagious enthusiasm. His travels led him to Italy, Germany, France, and England, and to his letters we owe delightful and penetrating insights into the character of each country."

""The Letters of Jacob Burckhardt"" is a collection of personal correspondence written by the Swiss historian and cultural critic Jacob Burckhardt. The letters cover a wide range of topics, including Burckhardt's thoughts on art, literature, philosophy, politics, and religion, as well as his personal experiences and relationships with friends and colleagues. The collection provides a unique insight into the mind of one of the most influential cultural historians of the 19th century, and sheds light on the intellectual and cultural milieu of the time. The letters are presented in their original German, with English translations provided for non-German speakers. The book is a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of ideas, cultural history, and the intellectual life of the 19th century.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

This authoritative study by a distinguished scholar presents a brilliant panorama of Italian Renaissance life, explaining how and why the period constituted a cultural revolution. It traces the influences of classical antiquity on the age's thinkers and artists and chronicles the revival of humanism, the conflict between church and empire, and the rise of both the modern state and the modern individual.