In the last decades of the twentieth century, French poststructuralist 'theory' transformed the humanities. Yet it also met with resistance, and today we frequently hear that theory is 'dead'.
Brilliantly argued and clearly written, this is an account of the past and present fortunes of theory, suitable for anyone researching, teaching, or studying in the field. It also maps out a way forward for the humanities in which theory will play a crucial part.
Colin Davis:
*reconsiders key arguments for and against theory, identifying significant misreadings
*reassesses the contribution of poststructuralist thought to the issues of knowledge, ethics, hope and identity*sheds new light on the work of Lyotard, Levinas, Althusser and Kristeva
*offers a fresh perspective on recent debates on the death of theory.
In closing, he argues forcefully that theory may change, but it will not go away.

Colin Davis is Professor of French Studies at the University of Warwick. His publications include Levinas: An Introduction (1996), Ethical Issues in Twentieth-Century French Fiction (2000) and French Fiction in the Mitterrand Years (with Elizabeth Fallaize, 2000).

Introduction 1 Impostures of French theory 2 Enlightenment/poststructuralism 3 After knowledge: Lyotard and the postmodern condition 4 After ethics: Levinas without stories 5 After hope: Althusser on reading and self-reading 6 After identity: Kristeva's life stories 7 Spectres of theory