French Literary Fascism

This is the first book to provide a sustained critical analysis of the literary-aesthetic dimension of French fascismDLthe peculiarly French form of what Walter Benjamin called the fascist aestheticizing of politics. Focusing first on three important extremist nationalist writers at the turn of the century and then on five of the most visible fascist intellectuals in France in the 1930s, David Carroll shows how both traditional and modern concepts of art figure in the elaboration of fascist ideologyDLand in the presentation of fascism as an art of the political. What interests [Carroll] is fascist ideology and fascist aesthetics, and the relationship between literature and political extremism in general and anti-Semitism in particular. Where some champions of these writers have attempted to separate their writing from their politics, Carroll argues powerfully that it was precisely their faith in art and literature which led them to identify with fascism. DLJames F. McMillan, The Times Literary Supplement In French Literary Fascism, Carroll dissects with great care the nature of fascist thought in French literature.... His commentaries are meticulous, documented, intelligent. DLRobert Zaretsky, The Virginia Quarterly Review A crisp and compelling narrative.... [This] is a book that all scholars of French fascism will have to take seriously. DLWilliam D. Irvine, American Historical ReviewCaroll, David is the author of 'French Literary Fascism' with ISBN 9780691037233 and ISBN 069103723X.