These essays are the thoughts of a well-established German Jewish philosopher who lived from the late 19th century until September 1940. As a philosopher, he devised theories about the development of technology in relation to human progress, as well as broader questions about the nature of human experience, the nature of time and reality, and the nature of language and art. His close friends included religious mystics in the Kabbalah tradition as well as well-known artists and writers, and his theories include those influences.
In this collection, Benjamin includes reflections on the literary career of Franz Kafka, a person for whom he felt a great deal of personal and academic respect. He reflects on the formation for Kafka's characters and considers the view of human presented. He also includes essays on other writers, including Proust, the great author of self. Beyond his considerations of their art in particular, he also examines the continental (broad philosophical) implications of their point of view.
Other essays examine his curiosity (or perhaps concern) with the development of modern technology. Interestingly, he has the First World War as an object of reflection, but the essays were published before the outbreak of World War II, so that there is a sense of prophetic insight in his writings. He is particularly concerned with the way the changing world might warp or alter the assumptions that cultures hold around art.
Benjamin does understand the issues facing Europe in the developing age, all too well, because in 1932, the German Chancellor Adolf Hitler was elected, prompting an exodus of German Jews from Germany who were familiar with Hitler's affinity for anti-semitic notions (which were often very popular at this time of history, but which Hitler openly professed, especially in his writings). He struggled with these dark times and often considered suicide, so the reader of these essays will likely notice an overtone of concern and frustration.
