Althusser—The Detour of Theory

Originally released by Verso in 1987 as the revised edition of the doctoral thesis of Elliott (PhD, Balliol College, Oxford, UK), this study provided an account of the intellectual career of structural Marxist theorist Louis Althusser (1918-1990). The study focuses primarily on Althusser's later, more directly political phase, placing it, as Althusser would wish, in their particular historical context. Although Elliott now recognizes a number of deficiencies in the study, including a misreading of Althusser's attitude toward Eurocommunism and levity in discussing Maoism, he has resisted the urge to revise the text beyond expanding the bibliography of Althusser's published writings, adding a long postscript in which he takes stock of Althusser's posthumously published work, some incidental stylistic revisions, and updated references. Annotation c2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Gregory Elliott was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, where he completed his D.Phil. on Louis Althusser in 1985. An independent translator and writer, his books include Perry Anderson: The Merciless Laboratory of History (1998). His most recent translation is Luc Boltanski and Eve Chiapello’s The New Spirit of Capitalism(2006).