Date: Sun, 23 Jul 1995 15:12:16 -0400
Subject: Re: MB: Recommendation?


Tom,

here's my advice on non-fiction, purely taken from my own experience of
"diving into" blanchot last summer and now having read almost all available
english trans. of his criticism.

1. both volumes _The Gaze of Orpheus_, trans. by Lydia Davis (w/ a preface by
Hartman!), published by Station Hill and _The Space of Literature_, trans. by
Ann Smock, published by U of Nebraska P contain some key essays and a good
starting point.
2. i would suggest beginning with one of his more general essays, such as
"Essential Solitude" (found in _Space of Lit._) or the short essays "Reading"
or "Communication" -
I found these to be the most easily accesible while also providing good
insight into B's ideas about lit in general

can't help much on the fiction. I'm still trying to obtain copies of most
myself. I am half way through _Thomas the Obscure_ - must say, having read
his criticism makes this reading more enjoyable and enlightening.  Thanks for
all those who have given me info on finding the other ficiton works.  I will
be contacting Station Hill P's distributor on Monday 

heatherly
"The fact that writing most often responds to the theme of failure by its own
failure should be seen as a sign of the anxiety basic to all literary
undertakings." Blanchot