ABSTRACT

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.

chapter |20 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|9 pages

Maurice Blanchot today

chapter 3|36 pages

The felicities of paradox

chapter 4|21 pages

Crossing the threshold

chapter 5|17 pages

The work and the absence of the work

chapter 7|14 pages

Conversation

chapter 8|15 pages

On unworking

chapter 9|22 pages

The trace of trauma

chapter 10|17 pages

‘A wound to thought’

chapter 11|19 pages

Potter’s Field

chapter 12|3 pages

A Letter

chapter 13|20 pages

Pour Sainte-Beuve