Reflection on Violence (Cambridge History of Political Thought Original Series Facsimile Edition)

Author: (French) Georges Sorel
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-07-01
Features: In the field of political theory, the "Cambridge History of Political Thought Originals Series" has firmly established its position as a major textbook series for students. This series aims to enable students to access all the most important original works in the history of Western political thought from ancient Greece to the early 20th century. It includes all the famous classic works, but at the same time, it expands the traditional evaluation criteria to include a wide range of less well-known works. Many of these works had never had a modern English edition available before. Whenever possible, the selected original works are published in their complete and unedited form, with translations specifically arranged for the purpose of this series. Each book features a critical introduction, along with a historical chronology, biographical sketches, further reading guides, and necessary glossaries and annotations. The ultimate goal of this series is to provide a clear outline of the entire development of Western political thought.
Author Bio: Georges Sorel’s Reflections on Violence is one of the most controversial books of the 20th century: J.B. Priestley argued that if one could grasp why a retired civil servant had written such a book, then the modern age could be understood. He heralded the political turmoil of the decades that were to follow its publication and provided inspiration for Marxists and Fascists alike. Developing the ideas of violence, myth, and the general strike, Sorel celebrates the heroic action of the proletariat as a means of saving the modern world from decadence and reinvigorating the capitalist spirit of a timorous bourgeoisie. This new edition of Sorel’s classic text is accompanied by an editor’s introduction by Jeremy Jennings, a leading scholar in political thought, both setting the work in its context and explaining its major themes. A chronology of Sorel’s life and a list of further reading are included.