The Modernist Imagination: Intellectual History and Critical Theory

"This volume illustrates what it means to do intellectual history and demonstrates why intellectual history remains important, especially in the context of... the 'political history of ideas'." · German Studies Review

"Each essay, in its own right, is accomplished, well written, and highly engaging (even when one disagrees with its claims)." · H-German

Some of the most exciting and innovative work in the humanities currently takes place at the intersection of intellectual history and critical theory. Just as critical theorists are becoming more aware of the historicity of theory, contemporary practitioners of modern intellectual history are recognizing their potential contributions to theoretical discourse. No one has done more than Martin Jay to realize the possibilities for mutual enrichment between intellectual history and critical theory. This carefully selected collection of essays addresses central questions and current practices of intellectual history and asks how the legacy of critical theory has influenced scholarship across a wide range of scholarly disciplines. In honor of Martin Jay's unparalleled achievements, this volume includes work from some of the most prominent contemporary scholars in the humanities and social sciences.

Warren Breckman is Associate Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania and executive editor of the Journal of the History of Ideas.

Peter E. Gordon is Professor of European History at Harvard University.

A. Dirk Moses is Professor of Global and Colonial History at the European University Institute, Florence

Samuel Moyn is Professor of European History at Columbia University.

Elliot Neaman is Professor of European History at the University of San Francisco.