Ernst Bloch and His Contemporaries

Boldyrev’s study will certainly contribute to a new perception of Ernst Bloch. He demonstrates convincingly that Bloch was a creative thinker, who developed his theories in constant dialogue with the most important personalities and ideas of his age. -- Christina Ujma, Paderborn University * Modern Language Review *
This book is a welcome addition to the literature ... given the lack of material in English dealing with the complexities of Bloch's early intellectual formation. Boldyrev conveys well the swirling, turbulent thought of Central European intellectuals in the early decades of the twentieth century ... He is a skilful reader of texts and has a fine eye for subtle yet important distinctions ... [A] complex and challenging piece of work, but it is well worth the effort. * Vincent Geoghegan, History of Political Thought *
This is arguably the most comprehensive English-language study of Bloch’s intellectual evolution and his philosophy of utopia. Boldyrev’s book is wide-ranging and knowledgeable; it weighs Bloch’s originality and significance through sustained comparison with his distinguished contemporaries. * Galin Tihanov, George Steiner Professor of Comparative Literature (Queen Mary, University of London) *
What Ivan Boldyrev has done here is to provide a fresh and accessible perspective not only on Bloch's approaches to the messianic and utopian, but to discuss those approaches in relation to so many other central philosophical figures of the 20th century. What becomes clear in this book is that Bloch's central operator of the Ontology of Not Yet Being brings into its orbit and helps to explain the ideas of Heidegger, Lukács, Benjamin and Adorno and throws into sharp relief some of the contradictions of 20th century thought. This is an excellent little book for those who wish to understand Bloch's place within the universe of German philosophy. * Peter Thompson, Reader in German, Department of Germanic Studies, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. *
Whereas Freud examined our nightmares, Ernst Bloch focused on our daydreams, our fantasies of alternative realities as the ontological ground of the utopian imagination. In this erudite and compellingly nuanced study, Ivan Boldyrev places Bloch in conversation with his contemporaries – Adorno, Benjamin, Buber, Landauer, Lukács, Rosenzweig, and Scholem – illuminating his and their poetics of messianic hope. * Paul Mendes-Flohr, Divinity School, The University of Chicago; Professor emeritus, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem *
Bloch’s work is so unusual as to demand dis-engagement. Boldyrev’s juxtaposition with his contemporaries – on times and on mysticism – is helpful; but it is his extended discussion of Bloch’s long and fascinating relationship with Lukács that is the centerpiece of this useful book, and casts new light on both theorists. * Fredric Jameson, William A. Lane Professor of Comparative Literature and Romance Studies, Duke University, USA. *