Walter Benjamin: An indispensable philosopher-critic
Complete your Walter Benjamin bookshelf with a new translation of Benjamin’s moving evocation of the experiences of his childhood
“Everything which fell under the scrutiny of Walter Benjamin’s words was transformed, as though it had become radioactive.” - Theodor Adorno
Walter Benjamin (1892–1940) was a German-Jewish Marxist literary critic, essayist, translator and philosopher.
In 1940, he was in Spain, fleeing the Nazis and en route to the United States, when Franco's government cancelled his visa. Expecting repatriation, Benjamin took his own life.
“If the killing of Lorca was Fascism’s first crime against literature, Benjamin’s death was undoubtedly the second.” - The Listener
Preorder Berlin Childhood around 1900 and save 30% on all previously published Walter Benjamin titles.
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Reflections on Benjamin
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Further Listening
Esther Leslie and Stuart Jeffries discuss the life and legacy of Walter Benjamin. From his relationship with his peers, the other members of the Frankfurt School, and his cultural heritage, to his use of, and feelings about, technological advancements, to his approach to storytelling, writing and language more broadly, join Esther and Stuart for this fascinating and wide-ranging discussion of one of Western Marxism's most important philosophers.
