Fire Alarm: Reading Walter Benjamin's 'On the Concept of History'
ISBN 9781784786410
This illuminating study of Benjamin’s final essay helps unlock the mystery of this great philosopher
Revolutionary critic of the philosophy of progress, nostalgic of the past yet dreaming of the future, romantic partisan of materialism—Walter Benjamin is in every sense of the word an “unclassifiable” philosopher. His essay “On the Concept of History” was written in a state of urgency, as he attempted to escape the Gestapo in 1940, before finally committing suicide.
In this scrupulous, clear and fascinating examination of this essay, Michael Löwy argues that it remains one of the most important philosophical and political writings of the twentieth century. Looking in detail at Benjamin’s celebrated but often mysterious text, and restoring the philosophical, theological and political context, Löwy highlights the complex relationship between redemption and revolution in Benjamin’s philosophy of history.
Return & Refund
Books: Return within 7 days for store credit, excluding shipping costs.
Non-Book Items:
- In-Person Purchases: Store credit or exchange within 14 days.
- Online Purchases: Full refund within 14 days (shipping excluded).
Exceptions: Textbooks, course packs, and lab manuals are final sale unless a class is dropped within the first 4 weeks from the start of the term with proof of dropping the class.
All Returns: Items must be in original condition with tags/packaging. A receipt is required for in-person refunds.
Read our full Return and Refund Policy.
Shipping & Pickup
- Most in-stock items are processed and shipped through USPS within 72 hours (excluding weekends and holidays) after receiving your order confirmation email. You will receive another notification when your order has shipped.
- Shipping charges and estimated delivery times will be calculated and displayed at checkout based on the weight of your order and the destination.
- Pickup from 939 Lexington Avenue is available for most in-stock items.
- Read our full Shipping Policy.