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1. What does the Belle Époque refer to?

The Belle Époque ("beautiful epoch) describes a period of French and Western history from about 1870 to 1914. It was a period characterized by regional peace, economic prosperity, colonial empires, and technological, scientific, and cultural innovations.

2. What is an aesthete?

An aesthete was a member of the intellectual and artistic movement supporting aesthetic values over social-political themes in literature, music, and the arts. The movement was prominent in Europe in the late nineteenth century.

3. What does a dandy refer to?

A dandy was a man who placed particular importance on physical appearance, leisurely hobbies, refined language, and pursued nonchalance in a cult of self. It is a form of Romanticism.

4. When did the three Frenchmen arrive in London, according to the author's narrative in the opening of the book? Why were they there?

In June of 1885, the author describes the three Frenchmen (one a count, one a prince, and one a commoner with an Italian surname) arriving in London. They came for "intellectual and decorative shopping" (7).

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