Erich Auerbach and the Crisis of German Philology

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The book delves into Auerbach's life and intellectual battles against the rise of Aryan philology during the Nazi era in Germany. It highlights his defense of the Western Judaeo-Christian humanist tradition amidst the existential threats posed by völkisch mysticism and Nazi ideology, which sought to exclude the Old Testament from German culture. The analysis extends to Auerbach's celebrated work, "Mimesis," exploring its twenty chapters and his critique of völkisch nationalism, emphasizing the distinction between culture and civilization.