The Fin-De-Siecle Scottish Revival: Romance, Decadence and Celtic Identity

Explores cultural defence and revivalism in Scottish literature and art

The first book-length, interdisciplinary study on fin-de-siecle Scotland Unlocks Scottish writers’ and artists’ participation in neo-paganism, the occult revival, neo-Catholicism and japonisme Informed by extensive analysis of under-explored archival materials, such as the Papers of Patrick Geddes Richly illustrated with artworks, photographs and ephemera

As the Irish Revival took shape and the Home Rule debate dominated UK politics, what was happening in Scotland? This book reveals distinct but comparable concerns with cultural defence and revivalism in fin-de-sie cle Scotland, evident in the work of a number of writers and artists including Robert Louis Stevenson, Patrick Geddes, Fiona Macleod, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Mona Caird, Arthur Conan Doyle, John Duncan and various contributors to The Evergreen. Situating Scottish literature and art alongside international developments in culture, especially the rise of decadence, symbolism and Celticism, Michael Shaw demonstrates the ways in which dissident fin-de-sie cle styles and ideas supported and defined the Scottish Revival.