using 'at the turn of the century'

I'm writing about the period in between late 1800s and early 1900s (late 19th and early 20th centuries) can I use 'at the turn of the century and how so. The paper is regarding the feminist politics that evolved in this period and I want to express it in a way which conveys the significance of the continuity of time and the evolution of the ideologies.

Greetings!

Until recently, whenever someone said "at the turn of the century," it was understood that the person meant the turn of the 20th century--then, another century turned! I think that, at least the first time you use the phrase, it might be best to say "the turn of the 20th century"; in subsequent references you could leave out "20th"--although there are other phrases that apply, as well. One expression that is sometimes heard is "fin de siecle" which is French for "end of the century" and roughly refers to the years 1890 to 1914, particularly in Europe. It has implications of the decadence of a prosperous period, with a hint of major changes approaching. You might find some useful information by using "fin de siecle" as an internet search term.

Your paper sounds like it will be very interesting! Best of luck!

Thanks,

Sarah, EssayForum.com

First, I'd like to thank you very much for your attention!

Is "fin de siecle" commonly understood amongst historians, could you point me to a source?

& Could I write "at the turn of the nineteenth century" in otherwords, is this phrase refering to the end of the named century or the begining of the new one. I'm a bit confused, its seems to me that "at the turn of the nineteenth century" is refering to the close of the 19th century(1800s). I'm equating turn with close.

I hope my question is clear, truthfully this sort of phrasing is confusing to me.

Sincerely, Marlene

Greetings!

I actually first became acquainted with "fin de siecle" as a phrase from watching "Antiques Roadshow"! (Then I checked Wikipedia, to nail it down. They have a good article on it.) But yes, it is a recognized name amongst historians for a specific time period. Note that "fin de siecle" means "end of the century" so that term will always refer to the close of the century. My understanding of "turn of the century" has always been that we were turning into a new century, so at the end of 1899/beginning of 1900 it was the "turn of the 20th century." I think you'll find that's the case, once you start your research. Try doing internet searches on both phrases, in quotation marks, to get yourself started. Always look for bibliography or source information on websites, even ones that you know your instructor won't allow you to cite as a source (like Wiki, probably) because often their references section leads to sources that you can use.

I hope this helps clear it up a bit!

Thanks,

Sarah, EssayForum.com