Essential Writings

by Georges Bataille, Michael Richardson (Editor)

Georges Bataille′s work is an essential reference in any discussion of modernity and postmodernity. An important influence on Foucault, Derrida and post-structuralism, Bataille is a thinker of key significance. This volume makes a selection from the entire body of his academic work, showing how his thinking on sacrifice, eroticism, taboo and transgression, and the nature of identity inform his social theory. Bataille - Essential Writing s will be the standard introductory text to this profound and difficult thinker.

Genres: Philosophy

256 pages, Paperback

First published August 7, 1998

About the author

French essayist, philosophical theorist, and novelist, often called the "metaphysician of evil." Bataille was interested in sex, death, degradation, and the power and potential of the obscene. He rejected traditional literature and considered that the ultimate aim of all intellectual, artistic, or religious activity should be the annihilation of the rational individual in a violent, transcendental act of communion. Roland Barthes, Julia Kristeva, and Philippe Sollers have all written enthusiastically about his work.

Reviews

[Corvated · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have read this year

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A superb introduction to a vast body of ideas. Richardson, I think introduces key Bataillean ideas, such as transgression and sovereignty, with hardly any confusion. Each section is accompanied by excerpts from Bataille's corpus, which is extremely helpful if one wants to dig into his principle works.

[Michael A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good introduction - organized by 19 themes. Good, short introductory essays before each theme. Maybe a "baby" version of the Botting & Wilson Reader, but the 1961 interview at the end was very good.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

In theory I like this book very much. Michael Richardson, who wrote the best book about Bataille in English, here translates a selection of writings by Bataille for readers of Bataille in English. What is great about this book is that it contains many previously un-translated pieces by Bataille which is outstanding, but, as with many essential books, he only uses selections of other work. In the end I felt that perhaps he should just have translated various un-translated work as he did in Absence of Myth and Bataille’s writings around Surrealism. Also, this book is basically unavailable outside of libraries, so it is really not of any general use for the common Bataille reader. Perhaps that speaks to the reception of this book and that others felt the same with the book as I did. Alas... This book is worth tracking down for those translations available no where else.

[Milo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never had someone articulate so well feelings that I had felt but for which had no words. Bataille and I? We're like this 🤞.

On the other hand, this book gave me a syndrome with no cure: I cannot shut up about this old French dude. So in lieu of leaving a gushy, steamy novel of a review I will just give this five stars and move on.