Illuminations: Essays and Reflections

by Walter Benjamin

Paperback, 1969

Status

Available

Call number

PN37 .B4413

Genres

Publication

Schocken Books (1969), 278 pages

Description

Includes one essay on art and another on the philosophy of history.

User reviews

LibraryThing member bloom

In 1940 Walter Benjamin committed suicide at the Franco-Spanish border fearing that he would be unable to escape the grasp of Hitler's regime. He left behind perhaps one of the finest collections of literary theory of his era, complete with lucidly brilliant essays on Kafka, Proust, Baudelaire, and

general Marxist theory.

In this wholly excellent collection of essays, a remarkable introduction to Benjamin's life and work is provided by the late philosopher Hannah Arendt, who overviews his political formations and literary output. It's a model form of critical essay writing.

Perhaps the most famous essay in this collection is Benjamin's `The Task of the Translator,' widely regarded as one of the most important and thoughtful contributions to the field.

"No poem is intended for the reader, no picture for the beholder, no sympathy for the listener."

He argues that translation is a mode, and that the translatability of the work is the primary concern in the process.

Also included is an analysis of the philosophy of history.

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LibraryThing member jwhenderson

This book is a valuable collection of essays and reflections by the German literary and cultural critic Walter Benjamin. The collection is enhanced by the excellent introduction provided by Hannah Arendt. Of the ten essays in the collection by far the most famous is The Work of Art in the Age of

Mechanical Reproduction. In this essay Benjamin discusses the impact of mechanical reproduction through photography and film on the nature of works of art, even so far as to shape the design of new works. From comments on the "authenticity" of a work of art to the nature of the "masses" views of art this essay encompasses a wide range of ideas. My favorite essay of the collection, however, is Unpacking My Library - a personal excursion into the life of a book collector and how each book intersects with one's life and effects the direction of that life. With other essays on Kafka, Proust and Baudelaire this collection is one of my favorites - one to which I return from time to time.

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LibraryThing member reedist

A thousand stars for this book. If I had only one book, it would be this one.

LibraryThing member frenchphenom5

So much to say about this book. One of my favorite times when i read it was when the power was cut out due to a storm, I lit a candle and proceeded to read Illuminations. Not making this up. "N'empêche," this is perhaps one of the best books in my library and one that I will continue to read due

to its exhaustive and wide-spread arch on literature. I enjoy his essay on his library, as anyone who has had to pack and unpack his library can understand the simplicity, yet complexity, of thoughts that one experiences as we touch the covers of the books so precious to us. Next, his essay on Baudelaire is extraordinary, if I'm not mistaken he briefly talks about love and the randomness of this feeling with living in a large city. His "Task of the Translator," is simply amazing and not only does it paint a distinct approach to Translation, but I feel that he plants the seed for the Evan-Zohar/Tourey Polysystems approach to translation and, in general, its application to Literary Theory as a whole. There is so much to say about this book, and much time and thought has been put into understanding all of what Benjamin shared with us, any review is a far cry from the influence of this collection of essays. Any person wanting to learn about 20th Cent. Literary Influences MUST read Benjamin, and this would be a great starter. For anyone just looking to broaden their mind and learn something along the way this is also good for that. Maybe even a bathroom book... if you happen to spend a lot of time pondering on the porcelain throne, mimicking Rodin's "thinker."

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LibraryThing member gregorybrown

Walter Benjamin is awesome, and any difficulties I had following the work, I ascribe to the translation and to my ignorance about some of the subjects (especially Baudelaire and Proust). He's wonderfully aphoristic, able to quickly sketch little metaphors that both illuminate and dramatize what

he's talking about. He can be amazingly captivating, and absolutely rewards your attention. Very quotable, too!

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LibraryThing member deliriumslibrarian

They really are. Essays like lamps in the window of the long night of the C20th. A book to return to and re-read.

LibraryThing member jddunn

The bit about the angel of history is one of my favorite passages anywhere. A chilling epitaph for the first half of the 20th Century, and one of the enduring images for me of that maelstrom of modernism and destruction and acceleration. Lots of other great stuff in here too, but I can't remember

much except some interesting thoughts on translation and trenchant criticism on Kafka. Oh, and of course the famous Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, but I can't say that left much of a mark on me on first reading. This is definitely a book I'll dip back into repeatedly in the future.

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LibraryThing member ontoursecretly

Just lovely except for the Kafka business. I think I can forgive him, though.

LibraryThing member KidSisyphus

I knew I had arrived when I read Benjamin.

LibraryThing member lschiff

I was completely disappointed and underwhelmed by this book.

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