Alastair Duncan, a recognized expert on the period, tells the story of the meteoric rise and fall of Art Nouveau, which began as a general reaction by young artists and designers to the stifling traditionalism and revivalism of the mid-nineteenth-century fine and decorative arts. The "new art" first made itself felt around 1895, in architecture, furniture, glass, ceramics and the other applied arts, and fell into eclipse after World War One, until its rediscovery in the 1960s. The author recounts the history of this important modern movement in detail, introducing the main personalities - Galle, Lalique, Tiffany and others - and relating their aims and accomplishments to the background from which the movement emerged.

Ask the average Joe Soap to name two art movements of the twentieth century, and the odds are that he will say, "Art Deco and Art Nouveau."

Deco is understandable, it is a style that is still popular today; Nouveau was a much shorter lived and sporadic fashion. It is interesting to note that in England, few creative talents became involved and that America was hardly bowled over either and yet, one hundred years later it is seen as an important period and most people would recognise an article as being Art Nouveau.

This book is written by someone whose knowledge shines from every sentence, without being condescending.

In 200 pages, Mr. Duncan covers art, glass, ceramics, jewellery and architecture. All the major forms, artists and factories are mentioned. Nouveau can be difficult to categorise, as different artists took different views - and even called their art by different names (Austria called it Secessionist) Alastair Duncan makes it all crystal clear. ( )