Decline and Fall contraction of Edward Gibbon's "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire." The title alludes also to the German philosopher Oswald Spengler's "The Decline of the West" (1918–1922), which first appeared in an English translation in 1926 and which argued, among other things, that the rise of nations and cultures is inevitably followed by their eclipse. Waugh read both Gibbon and Spengler while writing his first novel. Waugh's satire is unambiguously hostile to much that was in vogue in the late 1920s, and "themes of cultural confusion, moral disorientation and social bedlam...both drive the novel forward and
Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) magazine included "Arthur" on their "100 Best Albums of the 20th Century" in 1999, and in 2003 "Mojo" featured the album on their list of the "Top 50 Most Eccentric Albums". The album was also included in the book "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die". All songs written by Ray Davies, except when noted. Print articles Bibliography Album notes Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) Arthur (Or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire) is the seventh studio album by English rock band the Kinks, released in October 1969. Kinks frontman Ray Davies