Re: [ejlist] New US book on Ernst Juenger

[John King <john.king@st-johns.oxford.ac.uk>]

> In September this year The University of California Press published a
> new book on Juenger. Already the title makes me suspicious: _A Dubious
> Past - Ernst Juenger and the Politics of Literature after Nazism_ .
> The author, Elliot Y. Neaman is a history professor at the University
> of Sand Francisco.

I have read this book in its original form as a PhD thesis and I have to
say that it amounts to a very substantial and scholarly credible account
of the reception of J in post-War Germany and the way in which
conservative circles in particular attempted to mould a specific image of
him. If I were to offer a critique of Neamann's book based on my vague
recollection of it, it would be that he neglects to show how German
left-wingers have equally tended to mould a very specific image of Juenger
to suit their own agendas.

Neamann's book is scholarly and rigorous, critical but by no means overly
hostile and spiteful.

> UCP claims that Neaman has made impressive investigations of published
> and unpublished material, including letters, interviews, and other
> media. The author is addressing, so the publishers, central questions
> of German intellectual life.

All true enough. But slowly EJ is escaping these specifically post-War,
post-Third Reich debates even with Germany to be considered within
different contexts. (that this perspective is going to take a long time to
fade away is shown by the current exchanges around Sloterdijk). Guess it's
easier for me as an Englishman to consider EJ from a different context.

Regards,

John