fin de siècle

Occurring at the end of a century, especially the 19th century (when traditional values were in a state of upheaval). This French phrase means "end of century." A work like The Importance of Being Earnest can help us to better understand fin de siècle sensibilities. What were the fin de siècle concerns in London, and how did they differ from, say, Paris? Dracula and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are two Gothic fin de siècle works.