Routledge Love, Desire and Transcendence in French Literature: Deciphering Eros

European literature and theory of the twentieth century have been intensely preoccupied with questions of 'Desire', whereas 'love' has increasingly represented a fractured and strange, if not actually suspect, proposal: this is a prime symptom of an age of deep cultural mutation and uncertainty. Paul Gifford's book allows this considerable contemporary phenomenon to be observed steadily and whole, with strategic understanding of its origins, nature and meaning. Gifford paints a clear and coherent picture of the evolution of erotic ideas and their imaginary and formal expressions in modern French writing. He first retraces the formative matrix of French tradition by engaging with five classic sources: Plato's Symposium, the Song of Songs, the myth of Genesis, the tension between Greek Eros and Christian Agape and the repercussions of Nietzsche's declaration of the 'death of God'. Modern variations on these perennial problematics are then pursued in ten chapters devoted to Proust, Valéry, Claudel, Breton, Bataille, Duras, Barthes, Irigarary, Emmanuel, Kristeva. Literary and theoretical perspectives are perfectly blended in his study of these attempts at 'deciphering Eros'. The book will appeal not only to students of French literature, but to all those interested in the cultural upheavals of the twentieth century. Review 'Professor Gifford ... does justice to the diversity, subtlety and complexity of the treatment of his theme in the greatest creative literature and thought of the century... . His book is a perfect blend of literary and theoretical considerations, very often quite novel. It will satisfy readers who are, and who are not, allergic to recent 'French theory'... . It should appeal not only to students of French literature but to all those who are interested in the cultural upheavals of the twentieth century.' René Girard, Professor Emeritus, Stanford University (Academy Français) ’A short review of Gifford's book cannot do justice to such a complex work. Gifford's precise, informed, detailed, and at times lyrical reading takes us readers through a fascinating literary and theoretical journey...’ Modern Language Review ’... a thought-provoking book written in clear and engaging manner. It will be of interest to all those interested in French or in cultural studies.’ Rocky Mountain Review About the Author Paul Gifford is Buchanan Professor of French and Director of the Institute of European Cultural Identity Studies at the University of St Andrews, UK. He has taught in France and Canada, as well as in Scotland and Ireland and is a member of the Institut des textes et manuscrits modernes (ITEM) of the Centre national de la rescherche scientifique, (Paris).