The remarkable lectures that Hegel gave in Berlin in the 1820s generated an exciting intellectual atmosphere which lasted for decades. From the 1830s, many students flocked to Berlin to study with people who had studied with Hegel, and both his original students, such as Feuerbach and Bauer, and later arrivals including Kierkegaard, Engels, Bakunin, and Marx, evolved into leading nineteenth-century thinkers. Jon Stewart's panoramic study of Hegel's deep influence upon the nineteenth century in turn reveals what that century contributed to the wider history of philosophy. It shows how Hegel's notions of 'alienation' and 'recognition' became the central motifs for the era's thinking; how these concepts spilled over into other fields – like religion, politics, literature, and drama; and how they created a cultural phenomenon so rich and pervasive that it can truly be called 'Hegel's century.' This book is required reading for historians of ideas as well as of philosophy.

Winner, 2022 Prose Awards for Philosophy

‘It is often thought that Hegel's philosophy fell into a rather deserved obsolescence by the middle of the nineteenth century. But Hegel's Century shows that even while Hegelianism waned, Hegel's concerns with alienation and recognition continued to set the agenda for European philosophy, both inside and outside the universities. It offers a magisterial yet accessible guide to those thinkers, mystics, and revolutionaries who appropriated these Hegelian themes for radically new purposes.'

Mark Alznauer - Northwestern University

‘Among other things, this book is to be celebrated for its clarity and breadth of exposition. In an age of increasing academic specialization, Stewart shows great range in tackling such a broad theme from an intellectually active century. This work spans the fields of at least philosophy, theology, literature, and political theory, and displays a commanding knowledge of central texts from the period and the socio-historical context in which they appear.’

Joshua Wretzel Source: International Journal of Philosophical Studies

‘… a good introduction for researchers who wish to familiarize themselves with the themes and debates of 19th century Hegelianism.’

Ioanna Bartsidi Source: Archives de philosophie (translated from French)

‘Stewart’s book is a worthy choice as the primary teaching manual for an advanced undergraduate course in the history of 19th-century thought.’

Nahum Brown Source: The Philosophical Quarterly

‘A very useful book for anyone interested in nineteenth-century philosophy, especially as a companion guide to an introductory study of individual thinkers. Scholars would be well-advised to include it as a resource for their students.’

Clay Graham Source: Journal of the History of Philosophy