Rene Girard : Violence and Mimesis

In recent years there has been a renewed interest in the work of ReneGirard, thought by many to be one of the most important, ifcontroversial, cultural theorists of the twentieth century.

Girard'swork is extraordinarily innovative and wide-ranging, cutting acrosscentral concerns in philosophy, psychoanalysis, literary theory,anthropology, theology, and sociology.

In this much-needed introduction, Chris Fleming traces the developmentof Girard's thought over forty years, describing the context in which heworked and his influence on a number of disciplines.

He unpacks thehypotheses at the centre of Girard's thought - mimetic desire, surrogatevictimage and scapegoating, myth, ritual, and the sacred - and providesan assessment of Girard's place in the contemporary academy.

Comprehensive and clearly written, this book constitutes an excellentoverview of Girard's work and is essential reading for students andresearchers in continental philosophy, theology, literary studies, French studies,and cultural studies.