Summer of Theory: History of a Rebellion, 1960-1990

In the decades from the 1960s to the 1990s, West Germany was a hotbed of apocalyptic master thinkers and a small publisher in West Berlin, Merve Verlag, provided readers with a steady stream of the subversive new theory coming out of France. Philipp Felsch's book follows the hopes and dreams of a generation that entered the jungle of difficult texts.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 280 pages
\n Publication date: 01 October 2021
\n Publisher: Polity Press
\n

The term "theory" has held a mystical allure since the 1960s, transcending mere ideas and evolving into a belief system, a quest for truth, and a way of life. It swiftly spread among its followers through inexpensive paperback books, igniting passionate discussions in seminar rooms and cafés. The Frankfurt School, Structuralism, Post-Structuralism, Adorno, Derrida, and Foucault were among the exotic schools and thinkers whose ideas captivated the minds of young intellectuals. However, the source of this fascination with dangerous thoughts remains a mystery. In his captivating book, Philipp Felsch delves into the aspirations and dreams of a generation that ventured into the treacherous realm of complex texts. Set in West Germany during the decades from the 1960s to the 1990s, a time characterized by the Cold War and a scarcity of movement, ideas held the power to ignite change. It was a period of apocalyptic master thinkers, offering unsettling reading experiences and a glamorous incomprehensibility that captivated the minds of many. During this time, the German publisher Suhrkamp released Adorno's Minima Moralia and other High Theory works of the Frankfurt School, while a small publisher in West Berlin, Merve Verlag, provided readers with a steady stream of the subversive new theory emerging from France. By tracing the adventures of these publishers and the reading communities that engaged with and debated these books, Philipp Felsch unveils a remarkable tale of an intellectual revolt. It was a time when the German Left fell deeply in love with Theory, shaping the course of intellectual discourse and paving the way for new perspectives and ways of understanding the world.

\n Weight: 670g\n
Dimension: 161 x 235 x 36 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781509539857\n \n