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Georges Bataille

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.


192 pages | 30 halftones | 5 x 7 7/8 | © 2007

Critical Lives

Biography and Letters

Philosophy: General Philosophy


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Table of Contents

        Introduction: Ecce Homo
  1    Abandonment
  2    An Attempt at Evasion
  3    Violence and Sumptuosity
  4    Underground Man
  5    Incipit Parodia
  6    Heterology
  7    Excremental Philosopher
  8    The Democratic Communist Circle
  9    Crisis
10    Counter Attack
11    Acéphale
12    The College of Sociology
13    War
14    Beyond Poetry
15    Between Surrealism and Existentialism
16    Summa
17    Unfinished
 
        References
        Select Bibliography
        Acknowledgements
        Photo Acknowledgements

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