The New Spirit Third Edition

"The New Spirit" by Havelock Ellis is an insightful exploration of the late 19th century, examining how literature and exceptional individuals fuel cultural change. The book considers the contributions of figures like Diderot, Heine, Whitman, Ibsen, and Tolstoy, who each embody the era’s shifting ideologies. Ellis begins by outlining his mission to capture the essence of this "new spirit," connecting various literary voices to illustrate their impact on society and to show how their works reflect a break from older ways of thinking to make a new world.