Holy Terror [Hardcover]

Terry Eagleton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2005

"Holy Terror" is a profound and timely investigation of the idea of terror, drawing upon political, philosophical, literary, and theological sources to trace a genealogy from the ancient world to the modern day. Rather than add to the mounting pile of political studies of terrorism, Terry Eagleton offers here a metaphysics of terror with a serious historical perspective. Writing with remarkable clarity and persuasive insight he examines a concept whose cultural impact predates 9/11 by millennia. From its earliest manifestations in rite and ritual, through the French Revolution to the 'War on Terror' of today, terror has been regarded with both horror and fascination. Eagleton examines the duality of the sacred (both life-giving and death-dealing) and relates it, via current and past ideas of freedom, to the idea of terror itself. Stretching from the cult of Dionysus to the thought of Jacques Lacan, the book takes in en route ideas of God, freedom, the sublime, and the unconscious. It also examines the problem of evil, and devotes a concluding chapter to the idea of tragic sacrifice and the scapegoat. Written by one of the world's foremost cultural critics, "Holy Terror" is a provocative and ambitious examination of one of the most urgent issues of our time.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With the knowledge of a library's worth of theology and literature in his back pocket, leading literary critic Eagleton (After Theory) sets out to trace the "genealogy" of terrorism by describing its role in societies throughout history. Composed of six brief, brilliant, dense chapters, the book draws on a vast assortment of myths, fictions and religious texts, contending that the critic can begin to comprehend the mind of the terrorist through an examination of Dionysus or Lear or Faust. Like the work of Umberto Eco, the book is learned, ironic and complex enough for numerous rereadings, particularly if the reader wants to form the kind of counterarguments the book implicitly demands. Indeed, its provocative circumspection may leave both liberals and conservatives sputtering. Though too dense and allusive for a general audience, Eagleton's "metaphysical" and aesthetic approach to the crisis of terror provides the kind of philosophical context to current events that will satisfy fans of Derrida, Lacan and Eagleton himself. (Nov.)
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Review

`This is a dazzling, clever, breathless and infuriating book.' Jonathan Baker, New Directions

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0199287171
• ISBN-13: 978-0199287178
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #895,669 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Work About the History of Terrorism, October 20, 2005

By 

Charles J. Rector (Woodstock, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Holy Terror (Hardcover)

Terry Eagleton has written an excellent, albeit dense, history of terrorism. Eagleton's argument is that terrorism is actually a modern method that has its roots in the French Revolution.

Eagleton's work is both well reasoned and researched. If you want a good, solid general survey about terrorism history, then this is the book for you.

13 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Seven out of ten...., November 15, 2005

By 

Drexler "Drex" (Kerry Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Holy Terror (Hardcover)

This is very much a philosophical reflection on the idea of terror, as it is on concepts such as life, death, love, desire, good and evil. Eagleton asks us to think critically about what these words imply, instead of accepting interpretations which we may have inherited.

It is extremely theorectical, very much academic and written in a style can feel like the author is deliberately trying to exclude readers. It is full of specific literary references - most of the time it doesn't make a huge difference if you don't know the work in question,but other times it does. Eagleton slows down for nobody, nor is he one to offer explanations for certain things where they might be needed.

This book is not about international relations, foreign policy or the differences between civilizations. It is a reflection, and as such it works very well indeed. Overall a commendable piece of work.

5 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The sin of moral equivalence, April 25, 2006

By 

Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" (Jerusalem,Israel) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Holy Terror (Hardcover)

As early as the first page of this work Eagelton shows his political colors. He accuses the Pentagon and the United States of being guilty of terror in the same way as those Islamic groups which deliberately target civilians are. This is an irresponsible and mistaken claim.
In fact Eagelton's method of mixing literary references with matter- of - fact happenings give a sense that he has no real experience , no true understanding of the subject. The gruesome cruel deliberate targeting of civilians for political purposes is not much illuminated by abstruse and complicated jargon- making.
Terror's is not holy. It is Evil.