Stoekl analyzes a key tradition among 20th-century French intellectuals. Beginning with the great sociologist Emile Durkheim, intellectuals have endeavored to guide society. Durkheim supported a civic religion of republicanism; and later intellectuals, e.g., Sartre and Drieu La Rochelle, have pursued the political with ever greater vigor. In contrast, writers such as Maurice Blanchot prefer to avoid the public forum: they instead devote themselves to the intricate play of language. Stoekl's comprehensive discussion rests on deconstructionist assumptions, but even those unsympathetic to this approach will find valuable the author's detailed and careful account. The treatment of Bataille is excellent. For scholarly collections.
- David Gordon, Bowling Green State Univ., Ohio
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"A valuable contribution to twentieth-century French intellectual history. It will be required reading for specialists in French literature and intellectual history and also for those involved in contemporary theory."—Thomas Pavel, Princeton University
(Thomas Pavel )"A long duration intellectual history—smart, patient, beautifully constructed. A fine achievement."—Alice Yaeger Kaplan, Duke University
(Alice Yaeger Kaplan )
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