Sunday, July 15, 2012

Illuminations - Walter Benjamin with introduction by Hannah Arendt


Illuminations is a selection of studies on contemporary art and culture by one of the most original, critical and analytical minds of last century. It includes Benjamin's two amazing texts on Kafka, a very interesting text on Baudelaire and Proust (both of whom he translated), but also essays on Leskov and on Brecht's Epic Theater.

Hannah Arendt selected the essays for this volume and prefaces them with a substantial and well informed introduction that presents Benjamin's personality and intellectual development, as well as his work and his life in dark times.

The literary-philosophical works of Walter Benjamin (1892-1940) remain essential reading in the post-war era, though only since his death had Benjamin achieved the fame and critical currency outside his native Germany . Now he is widely held to have possessed one of the most acute and original minds of the Central European culture decimated by the Nazis.

Illuminations contains also contains the highly interesting 'Theses on the Philosophy of History'.

Enjoy!

1 comment:

  1. I can recommend also this book: Walter Benjamin, One-Way Street. this is a short but essential text, have a nice summer time. Elena Nemkova

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