Description
Book SynopsisThe remarkable individuals whose stories make up Jerrold Seigel's Between Cultures-Richard Burton, T. E. Lawrence, Louis Massignon, Chinua Achebe, and Orhan Pamuk-without ever seeking to exit from the ways of life into which they were born, all devoted themselves to exploring a second cultural identity as an intrinsic part of their first.
Trade Review"Jerrold Seigel, one of our most astute commentators on the Western self, now explores the lives and writings of five remarkable men moving between modern cultural worlds. From Richard Burton to Orhan Pamuk, Seigel leads us on a fascinating journey where religion, eros, politics, and violence are all brought into play across regimes of colonial conflict. An absorbing examination of loss and discovery,
Between Cultures gives us powerful new insights into what belonging can mean in our entangled universe." * Natalie Zemon Davis, University of Toronto *
"Jerrold Seigel is one of the greatest practitioners of intellectual history in our time-and this account of five exemplary individuals, who produced great works while inhabiting two different cultures simultaneously, speaks to all of his strengths: his psychological insight, combined with a deep knowledge of the social sciences as well as world history; his philosophical sophistication, allied with an anthropologist's interest in all that initially seems alien; and his profound compassion for the 'human, all too human,' which is evident on every page of this exemplary study." * James Miller, author of
Examined Lives: From Socrates to Nietzsche and
The Passion of Michel Foucault *
"
Between Cultures is an engaging, insightful, and highly original study. The variety of individuals and cultures that Seigel examines makes this a daring and challenging project, and he pulls it off with considerable skill and conviction." * Dane Kennedy, George Washington University *
Table of ContentsIntroduction
Chapter 1. Masquerade, Engagement, and Skepticism: Richard Burton
Chapter 2. Commitment and Loss: T. E. Lawrence
Chapter 3. The Islamic Catholicism of Louis Massignon
Chapter 4. Independence and Ambivalence: Chinua Achebe and Two African Contemporaries
Chapter 5. Reflection, Mystery, and Violence: Orhan Pamuk
Conclusion. Distance and Belonging
Notes
Index
Acknowledgments
