We can gain powerful insights about the present when we take time to examine the past. In her new book, Lawrence University Professor of Music Cathy Kautsky paints a vivid picture of Paris, France during the period between the end of the Franco-Prussian War (1871) and World War I (1914), commonly called the Belle Epoque.
In addition to learning about the arts and artists of that time, Kautsky also reveals powerful insights about how themes and forces from Debussy’s time are still with us in 21st century America. Issues like racism, nationalism, and foreign adventurism are as familiar today as they were more than a century ago. Get your own copy of the book here, and see for yourself how the past has parallels with the present.
You can also hear the full interview below:
