The Age of Chance : Gambling in Western Culture

ISBN-13: 9780415179973 / Angielski / Twarda / 1999 / 232 str.

Gerda Reith

Opis

From the Apophoreta of Imperial Rome to the ersatz grandeur of Las Vegas, from ritual divination to weekly lottery fever, individuals have pitted themselves against the chaotic forces of Fate. The Age of Reason promised to bring such forces within our control, but as we look around us, it appears that life has never been more uncertain: risk, speculation and flux are our constant companions. We have entered the Age of Chance. Characteristic of this age is the increasing popularity of gambling throughout western society. Gerda Reith examines its enduring appeal, exploring its complex relation to our underlying conceptions of the world, and to the social and cultural backgrounds of those who fall under its spell.

O autorze

Reith, Gerda