Maurice Blanchot

<p>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.<br> 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.<br> 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.<br><em>Maurice Blanchot: The Demand of Writing</em> is a crucial selection for all students of philosophy, literature or French studies.</p> List of Contributors. Acknowledgements. A note on the translations. Introduction Leslie Hill, 1. Roger Laporte, Reader of Blanchot Ian Maclachlan, 2. Maurice Blanchot Today Roger Laporte, 3. The Felicities of Paradox: Blanchot on the Null-Space of Literature Rodolphe Gasche, 4. Crossing the Threshold: on `literature and the Right to Death' Christopher Fynsk, 5. The Work and the Absence of the Work Paul Davies, 6. Il y a - Holding Levinas's Hand to Blanchot's Fire Simon Critchley, 7. Conversation Ann Smock, 8. On Unworking: the Image in Writing According to Blanchot Marie-Claire Ropars-Wuilleumier, 9. The Trace of Trauma: Blindness, Testimony and the Gaze in Blanchot and Derrida Michael Newman, 10. `A Wound to Thought' Michael Holland, 11. Potter's Field: Death Worked and Unworked Gillian Rose, 12. A Letter Maurice Blanchot, 13. Pour Sainte-Beuve: Maurice Blanchot, March 10, 1942 Jeffrey Mehlman