Maurice Blanchot: The Demand of Writing (Warwick Studies in European Philosophy)

This timely collection of essays is the first to be written on the work of Maurice Blanchot in English. One of the finest writers of our time, Blanchot is a contemporary of Bataille and Levinas; his writing has influenced the likes of Derrida and Foucault. Eminent commentators featured here include: Simon Critchley, Paul Davies, Cristopher Fynsk, Rodolphe Gasche, Leslie Hill, Michael Holland, Jeffery Mehlman, Roger Laporte, Ian Maclachlan, Marie-Claire Ropars-Wuilleumier, Gillian Rose and Ann Smock. The essays consider the political implications of Blanchot's questioning the relationship between philosophy and literature. In addition, the provocative issue of Blanchot's politics during the 1930s is clarified by a letter from Blanchot to one of the contributors, published here for the first time. Maurice Blanchot: The Demand of Writing is a crucial selection for all students of philosophy, literature or French studies. Annotation This timely collection of essays is the first to be written on the work of Maurice Blanchot in English. One of the finest writers of our time, Blanchot is a contemporary of Bataille and Levinas; his writing has influenced the likes of Derrida and Foucault. Eminent commentators featured here include: Simon Critchley, Paul Davies, Cristopher Fynsk, Rodolphe Gasche, Leslie Hill, Michael Holland, Jeffery Mehlman, Roger Laporte, Ian Maclachlan, Marie-Claire Ropars-Wuilleumier, Gillian Rose and Ann Smock. The essays consider the political implications of Blanchot's questioning the relationship between philosophy and literature. In addition, the provocative issue of Blanchot's politics during the 1930s is clarified by a letter from Blanchot to one of the contributors, published here for the first time. Maurice Blanchot: The Demand of Writingis a crucial selection for all students of philosophy, literature or French studies Roger Laporte, Reader Of Blanchot / Ian Maclachlan -- Maurice Blanchot Today / Roger Laporte -- The Felicities Of Paradox : Blanchot On The Null-space Of Literature / Rodolphe Gasché -- Crossing The Threshold : On Literature And The Right To Death / Christopher Fynsk -- The Work And The Absence Of The Work / Paul Davies -- Il Y A : Holding Levinas's Hand To Blanchot's Fire / Simon Critchley -- Conversation / Ann Smock -- On Unworking : The Image In Writing According To Blanchot / Marie-claire Ropars-wuilleumier -- The Case Of Trauma : Blindness, Testimony, And The Gaze In Blanchot And Derrida / Michael Newman -- 'a Wound To Thought' / Michael Holland -- Potter's Field : Death Worked And Unworked / Gillian Rose -- A Letter / Maurice Blanchot -- Pour Saint-beuve : Maurice Blanchot, 10 March 1942 / Jeffrey Mehlman. Edited By Carolyn Bailey Gill. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This timely collection of essays is the first to be written on the work of Maurice Blanchot in English. Blanchot demonstrates the radical philosophical import of literature, and has renewed the debate over the ethics of art. In recent years, the work of Derrida, Lacan and others has reminded us that thought and writing of compelling originality may go hand in hand with the scrupulous reading of the work of others.