Beckett and Philosophy [Hardcover]

Beckett and Philosophy examines and interrogates the relationships between Samuel Beckett's works and contemporary French and German thought. There are two wide-ranging overview chapters by Richard Begam (Beckett and Postfoundationalism) and Robert Eaglestone (Beckett via Literary and Philosophical Theories), and individual chapters on Beckett, Derrida, Foucault, Deleuze, Badiou, Merleau-Ponty, Adorno, Habermas, Heidegger and Nietzsche. The collection takes a fresh look as issues such as postmodern and poststructuralist thought in relation to Beckett studies, providing useful overview chapters and original essays.Notes on the Contributors Introduction; R.Lane PART I: THEORIZING BECKETT AND PHILOSOPHY Beckett and Postfoundationalism: or, How Fundamental Are Those Fundamental Sounds; R.Begam Beckett in the Wilderness: Writing About (not) Writing About Beckett; R.Eaglestone PART II: BECKETT AND FRENCH THOUGHT Cinders: Derrida with Beckett; G.Banham The Role of the Dead Man in the Game of Writing: Beckett and Foucault; T.Hunkeler Deleuze Reading Beckett; M.Bryden Beckett and Badiou; A.Gibson The Body of Memory: Beckett and Merleau-Ponty; U.Maude PART III: BECKETT AND GERMAN THOUGHT Trying (Not) To Understand: Adorno and the Work of Beckett; D.Cunningham Philosophical Adjacency: Beckett's Prose via J?rgen Habermas; P.Tew Beckett and Heidegger: A Critical Survey; S.Barfield Beckett and Nietzsche: The Eternal Headache; R.Lane Index

'A stimulating foray into European history of ideas in the 20th century, this title reveals, by yet another measure, Beckett's critically important place.' - J.Schlueter, Choice

GARY BANHAM Lecturer, Bolton Institute and Teacher of Philosophy, Adult Education Authority, ManchesterSTEVE BARFIELD Senior Lecturer in English Literacy and Cultural Studies, University of WestminsterRICHARD BEGAM Professor of English, University of MadisonMARY BRYDEN Senior Lecturer, Department of French Studies, University of ReadingDAVID CUNNINGHAM LlÓ+