Offering a fascinating survey of Norbert Elias's life and writings, Dennis Smith traces the growth of his reputation. He is the first author to confront Elias's work with the contrasting theories of Talcott Parsons, Hannah Arendt, Michel Foucault and Zygmunt Bauman. He also illustrates how Elias's insights can be applied to understand Western modernity and social and political change. Smith shows why Elias is important for sociology, but he is also clear sighted about the limitations of Elias's approach.

PART ONE: MODERNITY AND ELIAS
The Sound of Canon-Fire
Culture and Civilization
PART TWO: THE WIDER DEBATE
Arendt and Elias
Parsons and Elias
Foucault and Elias
Bauman and Elias
PART THREE: TOWARDS GLOBAL MODERNITY
Europe
Shame
A Civilized Debate

Dennis Smith is Professor of Sociology at the University of Loughborough