Critical Essays - Volume 1, 1944-1948

Georges Bataille founded the journal "Critique" in 1946 to explore the post-war cultural landscape and advance his reflections on excess, non-knowledge, and the general economy. He tackled prominent and divisive figures such as Henry Miller and Albert Camus, and his articles featured important reflections on the science of sexuality, the Chinese Revolution, and historical accounts of drunkenness. This is the first of three volumes collecting Batailles post-war essays, making his post-war thought available in English for the first time.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2023
Publisher: Seagull Books London Ltd

After the Second World War, Georges Bataille, a French philosopher and writer, embarked on a unique journey through the moral and political complexities of his era. Driven by a profound desire to immerse himself in the events of his time and to reject the compartmentalization of intellectual life, Bataille established the journal Critique in 1946. Taking the form of review essays, he undertook a comprehensive survey of the post-war cultural landscape, while also advancing his profound reflections on excess, non-knowledge, and the broader economy. With a particular focus on literature as a mode of sovereign uselessness, Bataille delved into the works of influential figures such as Henry Miller and Albert Camus, engaging in spirited debates that resonated across the intellectual community.

In alignment with the mission of Critique to explore the entirety of human knowledge, Bataille's articles extended beyond literature, encompassing significant insights into the science of sexuality, the Chinese Revolution, and historical accounts of drunkenness, among other subjects. Throughout his writings, he remained acutely aware of humanity's grappling with the excessive forces of production and destruction it had unleashed, seeking to develop a way of thinking and living that could fully inhabit that excess.

This first volume of a three-part collection presents a selection of Batailles post-war essays, spanning from an article on Nietzsche and fascism written shortly after the liberation of Paris to the end of 1948. These texts mark the first time that Batailles's post-war thought is made available in English, offering a comprehensive and systematic exploration of the diverse range of his intellectual pursuits. Through his writings, Bataille invites readers to engage in a profound exploration of the human condition, challenging conventional notions of morality, knowledge, and the nature of existence itself.

Weight: 666g
Dimension: 9 x 6 x 1 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803090603