A new reading of Walter Benjamin that places his work in historical context and explores the theoretical links with German and Jewish philosophy and theology. The book also provides unique readings of Benjamin and the British artist Rachel Whiteread and British experimental author B.S. Johnson.

Richard J. Lane is Professor of English at Malaspina University-College, Canada

Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
2. 'Kulturpessimisus' & the new thinking
The decline of the West; Messianic new thinking
3. Metaphysics of youth: Wyneken & 'Rausch'
Wyneken; Youth's legacy; 'Rausch' - youth's intoxication; The metaphysics of youth
4. History: Surreal messianism
Eternal return; Profane illumination; Surrealism; Messianic time
5. Goethe and the 'Georgekreis'
The struggle with an angel; The essay form; Goethe as critical constellation; Death's detour
6. Kant's experience
Reduction & restriction; The despot of pure reason; The Kantian distance
7. Casting the work of art
Aesthetic judgement; "Space Under My Steel Chair"; The series; Fixed-explosive; Memorial aesthetics
8. Narrative order & modern fiction
Shuffle, or, order and de-formation; Just gaming; Benjamin, Johnson & Wittgenstein; Aphorism
9. Conclusion: Exile & the time of crisis
Reconfiguring repetition; Weapons of mass destruction; disrupting singularity; Postscript on crisis time
Glossary of German words and expressions
Bibliography