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The Ruin of Kasch
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Description
A brilliant new translation of a classic work on violence and revolution as seen through mythology and art.
The Ruin of Kasch takes up two subjects—"the first is Talleyrand, and the second is everything else," wrote Italo Calvino when the book first appeared in 1983. Hailed as one of those rare books that persuade us to see our entire civilization in a new light, its guide is the French statesman Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand, who knew the secrets of the ancien regime and all that came after, and was able to adapt the notion of "legitimacy" to the modern age.
Roberto Calasso follows him through a vast gallery of scenes set immediately before and after the French Revolution, making occasional forays backward and forward in time, from Vedic India to the porticoes of the Palais-Royal and to the killing fields of Pol Pot, with appearances by Goethe and Marie Antoinette, Napoleon and Marx, Walter Benjamin and Chateaubriand.
At the centre stands the story of the ruin of Kasch, a legendary kingdom based on the ritual killing of the king and emblematic of the ruin of ancient and modern regimes.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
The Ruin of Kasch by Roberto Calasso is often praised for its intricate and philosophical exploration of history and myth. Critics appreciate its rich tapestry of ideas that challenge conventional narratives, presenting an intellectual journey through cultures and time periods. Some reviewers note its dense and complex style, which can be both engrossing and demanding for readers who enjoy a deeply layered narrative.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780141397016
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 25 January 2018
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd
Contributors:
- Translated by Richard Dixon
Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 25.0mm
Width: 130.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 316g
Pages: 432
About the Author
Roberto Calasso was born in Florence in 1941. An author and publisher, he began working at Adelphi Edizioni from its founding in 1962 and continued as director for fifty years. The Book of All Books is the tenth part of a series that began with The Ruin of Kasch and includes the international bestseller The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony as well as Ka, K., Tiepolo Pink, La Folie Baudelaire, Ardor, The Celestial Hunter and The Unnamable Present. He died in Milan in 2021.
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