Description
Book SynopsisConsidered together, these six intellectuals serve as sobering reminders that political commitments are never as simple or straightforward as they seem and that admirable motives for political involvement can have dangerous and destructive consequences in historical practice.
Trade ReviewGolsan provides crucial lessons on both the necessity and the dangers of political action. Choice 2006 His intellectual honesty, scrupulous commitment to critical fairness, and determination 'to avoid the twin dangers of demonization and apology' places him at the antipodes of the partisan ideologues whose blindness and complicity with evil he documents in a dispassionate, elegant, and compelling voice. H-France 2007 Golsan's fine essays are a window into twentieth-century French intellectual life. -- Donald Reid International History Review 2007 Golsan's ideas are closely argued throughout and cast interesting new light. -- Angela Kimyongur Modern Language Review 2007 An intriguing contribution to the ongoing debates on the past and the present state of the French Republic of Letters. -- Thomas Nolden Shofar 2007 A thought provoking and well-researched new book... Will appeal to a broad audience of scholars, especially those interested in the major currents of French intellectual history. -- Andrew Sobanet Substance 2009
