Genius: The History of an Idea

By: Murray, Penelope

This book explores the history of the idea of genius from itsorigins in classical antiquity to its deconstruction inpostmodernist criticism. Focusing mainly on the creative arts, thebook examines certain key points in the development of the idea, and also addresses the problem of what constitutes genius inspecific subject areas. Experts in different fields havecontributed chapters on literature, art, music, mathematics, philosophy and psychiatry to produce a volume which illuminates anabiding obsession throughout the history of European culture.

The contributors to this volume show how the ancient image of theinspired poet and the Renaissance conception of the divino artistaboth anticipate later notions of genius, developed into the 18thcentury around the central figures of Homer, Shakespeare andGoethe. Romantic definitions of genius are analysed, as are theimplications of Nietzsche's pronouncements on 'human greatness'.The historic conjunction of genius and madness is explored from theearly belief in divine possession through the Renaissance notion ofmelancholy to the age of psychoanalysis.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0631157859
• ISBN13: 9780631157854
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Length: 248 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.4" x 9.3"