Synopsis The renaissance ushered in the modern age. Its spirit expressed itself creatively in a hundred ways--in literature and the arts, philosophy and the sciences, economics and politics, in living styles and social organisation. Its achievements have been phenomenal. Nevertheless, the age has also been greatly troubled by contradictions and setbacks, problems and disorders, wars and revolutionary upheavals and today it faces a global crisis of unprecedented magnitude. In the wide-ranging essays in this volume Professor Ray explores various trends and aspects of the modern age. Philosopher, historian, sociologist and litterateur, he brings his own humanist view to illumine some of the significant movements and counter-movements of modern history. Shakespeare, Goethe, Baudelaire, Camus, Sartre, Popper, Tagore, Gandhi, M.N. Roy, Phule, Ambedkar--they form landmarks in this course of his explorations. Starting with a personal account of the twentieth century, he focuses on some of the complex issues of our age and calls for a new renaissance to overcome our contemporary crisis.