Georges Bataille (Critical Lives) - Softcover

Kendall, Stuart

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1861893272 ISBN 13: 9781861893277

Publisher: Reaktion Books, 2007

Synopsis

Georges Bataille was arguably the greatest influence on the poststructuralist revolution in twentieth-century thought and literature, yet few truly understand his work and legacy. Stuart Kendall now translates the work and life of this renowned French writer, anthropologist, and philosopher into a concise yet informative biography that reveals fascinating facets of this intellectual giant.

Until his death in 1962, Bataille was an instrumental force in philosophical debate, acting as a foil for both Surrealism and Existentialism and advocating radical views that spanned the entire spectrum of political thought. Georges Bataille chronicles these aspects of his intellectual development, as well as tracing out his pivotal role in the creation of the College of Sociology and how his writings in aesthetics and art history laid the groundwork for visual culture studies. Kendall positions Bataille at the heart of a prodigous community of thinkers, including André Breton, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Jacques Lacan.

A compelling account, Georges Bataille will be invaluable for all thinkers who have benefited from Bataille’s lasting contributions.

About this title

About the Author:

Stuart Kendall is assistant professor of foreign languages and humanities at Eastern Kentucky University. He has edited and translated two collections of essays by Bataille, The Unfinished System of Nonknowledge and The Cradle of Humanity.

Review:

a compact and concise study ... The study of Bataille is increasingly unconfined to the domain of French Studies and so this book is key to any future preliminary discussion of such a prominent figure outside of his subject area and an exclusively Francophone community Modern and Contemporary France

About this edition

• Publisher: Reaktion Books
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1861893272
• ISBN 13: 9781861893277
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 192