About the Author

Roland Barthes was born in 1915. A French literary theorist, philosopher, and critic, he influenced the development of various schools of theory, including structuralism, semiotics, existentialism, social theory, Marxism, and post-structuralism. He died in 1980.

Reviews

"A revelation to readers of the great Barthes." --Judith Thurman, The New Yorker podcast "This book's unvarnished quality is the source of its wrecking cumulative power. Barthes's ironic intellect is here wrapped around his nakedly beating heart." --Dwight Garner, The New York Times "Precise and touching memories intersect with spare and at times desperate notes on time, death and grief, written despite 'the fear of making literature out of it.'" --Julian Barnes, The Times Literary Supplement "A collection of aphorisms, sadnesses, self-analysis: a journal of savage intimacy." --Adam Thirlwell, The New Republic "A beautiful, lapidary portrait of mourning." --Meghan O'Rourke, Slate