English literature the book is designed to acquaint students with the main outlines

On the other hand, the second half of the I9lh century in

England gave rise to a rapid growth of social contradictions. Those contradictions found their reflection in literature, too. It was reflected in literature by the appearance of different trends. A great number of writers continued the realistic traditions of their predecessors. It was represented by such writers as George Meredith, Samuel Butler, Thomas Hardy. The novelists gave a truthful picture of the contemporary society.

The writers of another trend, by way of protest against se­ vere reality, tried to lead the reader away from life into the world of dreams and fantasy, into the realm of beauty. They idealized the patriarchal way of life and criticized the existing society chiefly for its anti-aesthetism. Russian literary critics ca: led them decadents. (English and American literary critics call them the writers belonging to the Aesthetic trend). The decadent art, or the art belonging to the aesthetic trend appreciated the outer form of art more than the content.

Though the decadent writers saw the vices of the surrounding world, and in some of their works we find a truthful and critical description of contemporary life; on the whole their inner world lacks depth. They were firm in their opinion that it was impossible to better the world. They conveyed the idea that everyone must strive for his own private happiness, avoid suffering and enjoy life at all costs. The decadent writers created their own cult of beauty and proclaimed the theory of “pure art”; their motto was “art for art’s sake”. (Oscar Wilde /partially/, John Ruskin).

Besides, the end of the 19lhcentury also created writers who were interested in human society as a whole (B.Shaw, J.Galsworthy), and a new type of a writer who was preoccupied with the future of mankind (Herbert Wells).