Billie Silvey
November 2007
An eclectic website about Women, Christianity, History,
Culture and the Arts--and anything else that comes to mind.
Culture and the Arts--and anything else that comes to mind.
| The Romantics |
I am a Romantic. By that, I don’t mean that I’m
particularly sensual or that I read Romance novels. I mean by
the 19th century definition. I love the beauties of nature in the
raw, though perhaps cleaned up a little. I am an idealist; I
always think we as people can do better. I enjoy dreaming
about the past, but I work hard to improve the future.
When I was in college, I studied the English Romantic poets--
particularly the later Romantics--Keats, Shelley, and Byron.
Especially Byron. I spent a day a week for a year doing
research in the Huntington Library, reveling in its extensive
collection of 19th century books and manuscripts. I wrote a
book about Byron, though it was never published.
I believe in democracy. I believe in the rule of the common
people, not any elite, whether of birth, education or money. I
believe each of us should have one vote, and that everyoneâ
€™s vote should count the same. I believe that each
individual deserves respect and decent treatment and a
decent life. And I don’t think any of us deserves more
until all have at least that much.
In this issue of the website, I plan to consider Romanticism,
both as a movement in the 19th century and as a way of life
that deserves a second glance today. It could change the
way we think, value others, and relate to the world around us.
I plan to look at the Romantic view of nature, Romantic art,
and Biblical principles and Romanticism. You may not be a
Romantic, but I hope you’ll come along for the journey,
and maybe consider one or two new possibilities.
I’d love to hear your views. Are you a Romantic, or a
classicist? Do you appreciate some of the Romantic artists,
or do they seem overblown and dramatic? Are there
principles of Romanticism that you feel might help improve
our world today?
Please email me your reactions at b.silvey@sbcglobal.net.
particularly sensual or that I read Romance novels. I mean by
the 19th century definition. I love the beauties of nature in the
raw, though perhaps cleaned up a little. I am an idealist; I
always think we as people can do better. I enjoy dreaming
about the past, but I work hard to improve the future.
When I was in college, I studied the English Romantic poets--
particularly the later Romantics--Keats, Shelley, and Byron.
Especially Byron. I spent a day a week for a year doing
research in the Huntington Library, reveling in its extensive
collection of 19th century books and manuscripts. I wrote a
book about Byron, though it was never published.
I believe in democracy. I believe in the rule of the common
people, not any elite, whether of birth, education or money. I
believe each of us should have one vote, and that everyoneâ
€™s vote should count the same. I believe that each
individual deserves respect and decent treatment and a
decent life. And I don’t think any of us deserves more
until all have at least that much.
In this issue of the website, I plan to consider Romanticism,
both as a movement in the 19th century and as a way of life
that deserves a second glance today. It could change the
way we think, value others, and relate to the world around us.
I plan to look at the Romantic view of nature, Romantic art,
and Biblical principles and Romanticism. You may not be a
Romantic, but I hope you’ll come along for the journey,
and maybe consider one or two new possibilities.
I’d love to hear your views. Are you a Romantic, or a
classicist? Do you appreciate some of the Romantic artists,
or do they seem overblown and dramatic? Are there
principles of Romanticism that you feel might help improve
our world today?
Please email me your reactions at b.silvey@sbcglobal.net.