Decadence

Decadence was the name given, first by hostile critics, and then triumphantly adopted by some writers themselves, to a number of late nineteenth century fin de siècle writers associated with Symbolism or the Aesthetic movement.

Further reading

• Richard Gilman, Decadence: The Strange Life of an Epithet.
• Matei Calinescu, Five Faces of Modernity.
• Mario Praz, The Romantic Agony.