Bourgeoisie: Classical Memories of Desire and Consumption

Author: Gu Zhenfeng
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: Whether in terms of intellectual liberation or economic prosperity, the 19th century can be called Europe's golden age. During this glorious century, it created the bourgeoisie class unprecedented in human civilization and entrusted the future destiny of humanity to this vast consumer group. Looking back from the 21st century, we will find that many of the consumer forms we now regard as symbols of progress, the use of material science, and even the inspiration of ideas were already part of daily life in the simple 19th century. For example: the consumption model of department stores, the emphasis on sports and travel, the emergence of fashion magazines, the popularization of scientific knowledge, and the pursuit of a more refined lifestyle, such as perfumes, fashionable clothing, and so on. The fruits of these efforts gave rise to the grandeur of the World's Fair and nurtured various new technological products. Perhaps our lives today are more diverse than in the 19th century, but in fact, we are still living in the bourgeoisie world created by the 19th century. This book, rich in illustrations, is the best read for introducing the history of the bourgeoisie in 19th-century Europe.