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F4A A Nervous Splendor: Vienna 1888 - 1900

History & World Affairs | Unavailable

35 Henderson Circle Drive Bard College, NY 12504 United States
Olin 201
Class Limit: 30
9/11/2026-10/16/2026
1:40 PM-2:50 PM on Fri
09/19/2026

F4A A Nervous Splendor: Vienna 1888 - 1900

History & World Affairs | Unavailable

Vienna, 1888: Franz Joseph I celebrates 40 years on the Austria-Hungary throne. His steady hand and seriousness of purpose keep his polyglot empire peaceful (mostly) and prosperous. In imperial Vienna, the monumental Ringstrasse is now complete. The city’s cultural life is a showcase of modernity. Yet, members of the imperial family chafe under the Court’s backwardness. Many ordinary citizens are bored or anxious. Vienna’s suicide rate is the highest in Europe. No wonder Sigmund Freud finds fertile ground at all levels of society. What made Vienna “a nervous splendor”? The course draws its title and inspiration from Frederic Morton's classic account, A Nervous Splendor: Vienna 1888/1889.

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Weiner, Shelley
Shelley Weiner

Presenter
Shelley Weiner grew up in Brooklyn, graduated from Colby College (BA), and attended the MDiv program at Earlham School of Religion. She worked in print production for graphic designers and book publishers, represented commercial printing firms in the Northeast US, taught technical MacOS/iOS classes to educators and corporate clients for Apple, and owned an Apple-authorized training center in the Hudson Valley for 15+ years. She geeks out over history, languages, art, travel, and music.

Beames, Sara
Sara Beames

Presenter
Sara Beames (LLI) interned at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and holds an art history degree. Her career includes roles as a gallery director and an advertising production manager. In 1990, she moved to the Hudson Valley with her Australian husband to launch a kiln-fired glass business specializing in Judaica, home accessories, and jewelry. Through decades of visiting family and traveling throughout Australia, Beames became immersed in its culture, history, and politics. She now happily claims it as her second home.

McClellan, Mary
Mary McClellan

Producer, Class Manager

Rohrmeier, Susan
Susan Rohrmeier

Class Manager