History Rhymes
Nineteenth-century History

Author Archives: Alex Seifert

The Rise of Democracy in England

May 12, 2016 – 8:19 pm

Today’s idea of democracy has taken centuries to develop and no other country has such a unique history with democracy as that of England. From the first Norman kings in the eleventh century CE, to today’s complex relationship between the English people, the monarchy and the Parliament, the process by which the English have come to govern themselves in modern times is quite a tale unto itself.

Posted in 17th Century, 18th Century, 19th Century, British History, Middle Ages, Royalty and Aristocracy | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Houses in Fin-de-Siècle Britain: Conclusion

April 7, 2016 – 3:43 pm

Fin-de-Siècle Britain saw many new styles and innovations in the architecture of houses. Some of these new designs were visual whilst others were more practical. A mishmash of styles were created by a number of different architects in an attempt to redefine British architecture, but they would effectively only give the period a sense of chaos.

Posted in 19th Century, 20th Century, Architecture and Buildings, British History, Houses, Houses in Fin-de-Siècle Britain, Multi-Part Series | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Houses in Fin-de-Siècle Britain: The Interior in Fin-de-Siècle Britain

April 3, 2016 – 8:51 pm

Middle class families, like their upper-class peers, took the interior of their houses very seriously. It was the primary means with which they could put their financial and social status on display for the world to see. As such, interior design was arguably the quickest developing part of the house which continually morphed into different styles.

Posted in 19th Century, 20th Century, Architecture and Buildings, British History, Houses, Houses in Fin-de-Siècle Britain, Multi-Part Series | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Houses in Fin-de-Siècle Britain: Floor Plans and the Layouts of Houses

March 24, 2016 – 9:05 pm

The floor plans of Late Victorian and Edwardian houses began to reflect the continually increasing standards of living and the rise of new domestic technologies throughout the periods. Whilst working-class houses and the homes of the wealthy did not change much in terms of style or size, houses targeted at the middle class generally became larger.

Posted in 19th Century, 20th Century, Architecture and Buildings, British History, Houses, Houses in Fin-de-Siècle Britain, Multi-Part Series | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

19th Century News Tips

March 19, 2016 – 12:09 pm

As part of my efforts to reinvent History Rhymes, I would like to not only publish articles about various topics in nineteenth-century American and European history, but also write about the latest news and research in the field. If you have any news tips, they would be much appreciated.

Posted in News | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Houses in Fin-de-Siècle Britain: Trends in the Design of Domestic Façades

March 6, 2016 – 1:44 pm

Façades in Fin-de-Siècle Britain changed quite significantly. Early in the period they were very similar to their High Victorian counterparts, but through the designs of architects such as Morris, Webb and Shaw, they began to transform. By the Edwardian era, however, they had become enough different that they could easily be identified as specifically belonging to the period.

Posted in 19th Century, 20th Century, Architecture and Buildings, British History, Edwardian, Houses, Houses in Fin-de-Siècle Britain, Multi-Part Series, Victorian | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

The Caudillo and the Führer: Franco’s Spain and Hitler’s Germany

February 21, 2016 – 3:44 pm

Early in the twentieth century, a new and unique system of government emerged in Europe which would replace most of the age-old monarchies and eventually lead the continent into the modern era of democracy. Fascism, a form of extreme right-wing, nationalistic government controlled by a powerful dictator, rose in Europe from the ashes of the First World War. Germany and Spain were two of the predominant countries where fascism was nurtured and bought to life.

Posted in 20th Century, 20th Century, German History, Spanish History | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

Houses in Fin-de-Siècle Britain: Architectural Features of the Home

February 18, 2016 – 1:31 pm

As in all time periods, certain trends defined houses in Late Victorian and Edwardian Britain. These were not only visual, but also in terms of how the houses were laid out as well as certain features which were new to the period. Early in the Fin-de-Siècle, the features of a house were not much different than they had been during the High Victorian era.

Posted in 19th Century, 20th Century, Architecture and Buildings, British History, Edwardian, Houses, Houses in Fin-de-Siècle Britain, Multi-Part Series, Victorian | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Historic Books and Documents at the Internet Archive

February 12, 2016 – 10:08 pm

I stumbled upon an online archive today with digitized historic documents and books that ended up costing me about two hours of my time just browsing.

Posted in Books, Literature, News | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Houses in Fin-de-Siècle Britain: House Architecture in Fin-de-Siècle Britain

February 9, 2016 – 3:26 pm

It can be said that a nation’s architecture and national identity can be defined by the way it builds its own houses. Whilst this may be true to some degree, it is very difficult to judge in the case of Fin-die Siècle Britain.

Posted in 19th Century, 20th Century, Architecture and Buildings, British History, Edwardian, Houses, Houses in Fin-de-Siècle Britain, Multi-Part Series, Victorian | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)