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Lev Shestov, a Jewish philosopher, offers a compelling anti-Enlightenment perspective that critiques reason's limitations and promotes an ethics of hope amidst despair. His thought has significantly influenced prominent figures like Georges Bataille, Albert Camus, and Gilles Deleuze. In the context of the twenty-first century, revisiting Shestov's ideas appears both timely and essential, as his philosophy resonates with contemporary existential inquiries and challenges.

"Whether one considers Dickens's insomniac night-time perambulations or restless excursions through the faceless monuments of today's neoliberal city, the act of walking is one of self-discovery and escape, of disappearances and secret subversions. Pacing stride for stride alongside literary amblers and thinkers such as Edgar Allan Poe, André Breton, H. G. Wells, Virginia Woolf, Jean Rhys, and Ray Bradbury, Beaumont explores the relationship between the metropolis and its pedestrian life"-- Provided by publisher

In Nightwalking Matthew Beaumont recounts an alternative history of London-populated by the poor, the mad, the lost, the vagrant and the noctambulant. He shines a light on the shadowy perambulations of poets, novelists and thinkers: Chaucer and Shakespeare; William Blake and his ecstatic peregrinations and the feverish ramblings of opium addict Thomas De Quincey; and, among the lamp-lit literary throng, the supreme nightwalker Charles Dickens. We discover how the nocturnal city has inspired some and served as a balm or narcotic to others.

In the late nineteenth century, the idea of utopia captivated both Europe and the United States. This book delves into the emergence of utopian thought during this period, exploring its influence on society and culture. It examines various movements and ideologies that sought to create ideal communities and the impact of these visions on contemporary life. Through historical analysis, the text reveals how aspirations for a perfect society shaped political and social landscapes, prompting readers to reflect on the enduring quest for utopia.

Through his highly idiosyncratic readings of some of the finest paintings, sculptures, and poems of the French and Italian Renaissance, Walter Pater in Studies in the History of the Renaissance redefined the practice of criticism as an impressionistic, almost erotic exploration of the critic's aesthetic responses. Pater's infamous nullConclusion, null which forever linked him with the decadent movement, scandalized many with its insistence on making pleasure the sole motive of life, even as it charmed fellow aesthetes such as Oscar Wilde. This edition of Studies reproduces the text of the first edition of 1873. Matthew Beaumont's Introduction describes the cultural context that gave rise to the book, the reasons for its notoriety, Pater's philosophical outlook, and the arguments in his book. It explores Pater's work as an attempt to preserve the unique aesthetic of a work of art in the face of encroaching mass culture. The book also includes the later chapter on Giorgione as an Appendix, comprehensive notes that identify the many literary and artistic references, and a useful glossary of names. - Publisher

Exploring the roots of utopian literature's resurgence, this book examines the social, political, and cultural factors that have paved the way for its revival. It delves into historical contexts and contemporary influences that have sparked renewed interest in ideal societies, analyzing how these narratives reflect and challenge current realities. Through a critical lens, the author highlights key themes and movements that have shaped utopian thought, making it a significant contribution to literary and cultural studies.

From the author of the cult bestseller 'e', this novel explores themes of good intentions, mistaken motives, and a stroke of incredible luck that threatens to derail everything.

Out of the ashes of doomed ad agency Miller Shanks has risen Meerkat 360, a very 21st century workplace. Staff include David Crutton, an MD with the worst email signature in history; Milton Keane, a definitely-straight PA with a yearning for reality tv fa

Can we ever be truly in control of our own destinies, or are our lives entirely shaped by random events and unknown people? Small World is an entirely contemporary and engrossing page-turner which explores universal themes of love, death, friendship, marriage, madness, and redemption, unifying them all through this central question. Friends, family, workmates. The woman you see at the bus stop every morning; the man who reaches for the last newspaper just before you get to it. Everyone you meet, and some you nearly meet, will have an impact on the way your day goes.