A gem of a personal exploration by Julia Kristeva, examining contemporary issues such as European identity, the role of religion in political life, and the meaning of equality for women. "In these four packed meditations, bursting with intellectual vitality, Kristeva comes forth as an erudite as well as a personal, political, religious, and philosophical thinker, without relinquishing her (un)usual, exquisite poetic style. Engaging the issue of the contemporary failure of oedipal subjectivity and attacking our era of technology and robotization, she bravely calls for a return to the origins of our cultural memory. This is a provocative book for intellectuals of every stripe." -Frances L. Restuccia, Boston College, author of Melancholics in Love "The essays in this collection again prove that Julia Kristeva is one of the most profound and courageous thinkers of our time. From her intimate reading of Hannah Arendt to her diagnosis of Eastern Orthodoxy, Kristeva gives us a fresh perspective. In a noteworthy move in terms of her own work, in her essay on Arendt, Kristeva gives priority to active narrative over poetry. Her very personal reflections on the contemporary situation in the Balkans is stunning. Her diagnosis of the European Union and the role of religion in political economy fascinates with its provocations. And, her insightful comments on the meaning of legal equality for women complicates feminist debates over equality versus difference." -Kelly Oliver, State University of New York at Stony Brook
