The Romantic Revolution
TV Show · Documentary · History

Popular revolutions. Self obsession. Modern nationalism. These contemporary ideas were actually the creation of the Romantics, a generation of writers and artists living and working over 200 years ago. Many were visionaries, driven by rage and obsessed with madness. Historian Simon Schama reveals how these notions, forged during a century-long revolution in art and culture, still impact our lives.

2020 · 59m

Season 1

  • Passions of the People
    EPISODE 1
    Passions of the People
    Art expert Simon Schama explores the elixir of rebellion and the idea that imaginative passion can create an art for the people. Though the Romantic period was one of bloodshed, revolution and terror, extraordinary works by William Blake and Mary Wollstonecraft leapt out of the tumult. Contemporary thinkers and artists explore how these ideas are still integral to our cultural lives.
    59m
  • The Chambers of the Mind
    EPISODE 2
    The Chambers of the Mind
    Historian Simon Schama explains how the Romantics, driven by the failures of the French revolution and horrors of the industrial revolution, retreated from public life to take a journey into their own minds. He investigates the strange, unsettling images created by Victor Hugo as well as Thomas de Quincey's opium-fueled exploration of the boundaries of madness.
    59m
  • Tribes
    EPISODE 3
    Tribes
    There has been a resurgence of populist, nationalist movements across the world in recent times. But this is far from a modern phenomenon. The Romantics were also fascinated by the idea of ‘homeland’ and many artists were dedicated to feelings of national belonging. Simon Schama looks at the poetry of Burns, the music of Chopin and the notion of ‘nostalgia’ that was first expressed at this time.
    59m

Trailers

  • The Romantic Revolution
    The Romantic Revolution
    2m

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About

The Romantic Revolution

Documentary

Popular revolutions. Self obsession. Modern nationalism. These contemporary ideas were actually the creation of the Romantics, a generation of writers and artists living and working over 200 years ago. Many were visionaries, driven by rage and obsessed with madness. Historian Simon Schama reveals how these notions, forged during a century-long revolution in art and culture, still impact our lives.

Information

Studio
BBC
Released
2020
Rated
TV-PG
Region of Origin
United Kingdom
© 2020 BBC

Languages

Original Audio
English (United Kingdom)
Audio

English (United Kingdom) (AAC)

Subtitles

English (United Kingdom) (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Zimbabwe

Asia Pacific

  • Australia
  • Cambodia
  • Fiji
  • 香港 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Indonesia (English)
  • 日本
  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
  • 澳門 (廣東話–繁體)
  • Malaysia (English)
  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Mongolia
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • 대한민국
  • 台灣
  • Thailand
  • Turkmenistan
  • Vietnam

Europe

  • Armenia
  • Österreich
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Cyprus
  • Czechia
  • Denmark
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France (Français)
  • Deutschland
  • Greece
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italia
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg (English)
  • Malta
  • Moldova, Republic Of
  • Nederland
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal (Português)
  • Россия
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • España
  • Sverige
  • Schweiz
  • Türkiye (English)
  • Ukraine
  • United Kingdom

Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina (Español)
  • Bahamas
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia (Español)
  • Brasil
  • Virgin Islands, British
  • Cayman Islands
  • Chile (Español)
  • Colombia (Español)
  • Costa Rica (Español)
  • Dominica
  • República Dominicana
  • Ecuador (Español)
  • El Salvador (Español)
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala (Español)
  • Honduras (Español)
  • México
  • Nicaragua (Español)
  • Panamá
  • Paraguay (Español)
  • Perú
  • St. Kitts and Nevis
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Venezuela (Español)

The United States and Canada

  • Canada (English)
  • Canada (Français)
  • United States
  • Estados Unidos (Español México)