The London Object

This exploration of urban literature reveals how The London Object critiques capitalism and offers resistance through the works of notable London writers.

This book argues that certain works by Michael Moorcock, Iain Sinclair, Penelope Lively, Peter Ackroyd, and J.G. Ballard represent the coordinates of an altermodernity that could potentially mitigate the harmful effects of today's hyper-aggressive strain of capitalism. The author delves into how these writers engage with the urban environment, suggesting that their literature serves as both a critique and a form of resistance to the overwhelming influence of contemporary capitalism.

Étienne Balibar posits that we are witnessing the end of capitalism, not due to its natural decline, but rather because the current form is its most extreme iteration. By examining the works of Moorcock, Sinclair, Lively, Ackroyd, and Ballard, the book highlights a collective of London writers who have anticipated and challenged the negative impacts of capitalism on urban life. Their narratives reflect an understanding of how deeply capitalism has permeated the very fabric of the city.

Through a politics of reconnection to reality, these authors unsettle the foundations of modernity and capitalism. They illustrate how the materiality of the urban environment shapes individual thought and existence. The collective insights found in The London Object suggest pathways toward an altermodernity that might facilitate a transformative conclusion to capitalism as we know it.