Responses to modernity : essays in the politics of culture

This book consists of essays and reviews that address social, political, and cultural issues which arose in connection with literature broadly conceived in the wake of the First World War, and extending throughout the twentieth century. The first portion of the volume concerns France, with both essays on individual writers such as Paul Valéry, Jacques Maritain, Albert Camus, André Malraux, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Yves Bonnefoy and a piece on French intellectuals between the wars.The second part concerns Germany and Romania, with essays on Ernst Juenger, Gottfried Benn, Erich Kahler, E. M. Cioran, and others. The volume concludes with essays on problems of literary criticism, in dialogue with such critics as Gary Saul Morson, Ian Watt, T. S. Eliot, and R. P. Blackmur. These essays also discuss the history of the novel and the question of "realism." Contents 7 Previous Publication 9 Introduction 13 PART ONE France 15 1. Paul ́Valery: Masters and Friends 17 2. Jacques Maritain: Medieval Modernism 34 3. Camus as Journalist 46 4. Andre Malraux: A Hero of His Time 57 5. Yves Bonnefoy: Notes of an Admirer 73 6. Racine and Anti-Semitism 90 7. Nicola Chiaromonte: The Ethics of Politics 98 8. French Intellectuals between the Wars 108 9. Sartre: An Existentialist in the Underworld 117 10. Ernst Juenger: An Impenitent Prussian 123 PART TWO Germany and Romania 121 11. The ‘‘Double Life’’ of Gottfried Benn 128 12. Erich Kahler and the Quest for a Human Absolute 132 13. Eliade, Cioran, Ionesco: The Treason of the Intellectuals 148 14. Eliot’s Legacy 169 PART THREE Critics and Criticism 167 15. The Novel in Wonderland 177 16. R. P. Blackmur’s Texts: An Introduction 189 17. Ian Watt: A Tribute 199 18. Gary Saul Morson’s Narrative and Freedom 216 19. Lilian Furst and the Art of Literary Realism 227 Index 233 This book consists of essays and reviews that address social, political, and cultural issues which arose in connection with literature broadly conceived in the wake of the First World War, and extending throughout the twentieth century. The first portion of the volume concerns France, with both essays on individual writers such as Paul Val ry, Jacques Maritain, Albert Camus, Andr Malraux, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Yves Bonnefoy and a piece on French intellectuals between the wars. The second part concerns Germany and Romania, with essays on Ernst Juenger, Gottfried Benn, Erich Kahler, E.M. Cioran, and others. The volume concludes with essays on problems of literary criticism, in dialogue with such critics as Gary Saul Morson, Ian Watt, T.S. Eliot, and R.P. Blackmur. These essays also discuss the history of the novel and the question of "realism." Content: Paul Valéry: masters and friends -- Jacques Maritain: Medieval modernism -- Camus as journalist -- André Malraux: a hero of his time -- Yves Bonnefoy: notes of an admirer -- Racine and anti-semitism -- Nicola Chiaromonte: the ethics of politics -- French intellectuals between the wars -- Sartre: an existentialist in the underworld -- Ernst Juenger: an impenitent Prussian -- The "double life" of Gottfried Benn -- Erich Kahler and the quest for a human absolute -- Eliade, Cioran, Ionesco: the treason of the intellectuals -- Eliot's legacy -- The novel in wonderland -- R.P. Blackmur's texts: an introduction -- Ian Watt: a tribute -- Gary Saul Morson's narrative and freedom -- Lilian Furst and the art of literary realism. pt. 1. France -- pt. 2. Germany and Romania -- pt. 3. Critics and criticism. This collection consists of essays and reviews that address social, political, and cultural issues which arose in connection with literature broadly conceived in the wake of World War I, and extending throughout the twentieth century. It covers France, with essays on individual writers and on French intellectuals between the wars; Germany and Romania; and essays on problems of literary criticism that also discuss the history of the novel and the question of 'realism'