Lyric poet of the developed capitalist era

Author: (German) Benjamin / Wang Caiyong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-02-01
Features: The Lyric Poet in the Age of High Capitalism is a monograph by Benjamin on Baudelaire. Baudelaire's exploration of the modern experience in mid-19th-century Paris deeply captivated Benjamin. From the perspective of a lyric poet alienated by the capitalist commodity world, Benjamin sought to reread Paris during the early stages of the capitalist industrial revolution. In the book, Benjamin laments alongside Baudelaire the "fading gas lamps of the Second Empire, the housing lots that fixed people to the land, and the columnists gradually degenerating into commodity producers." Together, they observe this noisy material world of commodities as "urban flaneurs" hidden among the crowds, and express a sense of "shock" at the rapidly changing social reality. Yet, in the conclusion, Benjamin poignantly and melancholically shatters Baudelaire's modernist heroic dream. Benjamin's unique perspective, meticulous observation, and keen insight make this magnificent work, built upon a vast array of citations, even more poetic and enduring.