Georges Bataille

Georges Bataille (September 16, 1897-July 9, 1962) was a French writer. First he was tempted by priesthood and went to a Catholic seminary but lost his faith in 1922. He then worked as a librarian, thus keeping his freedom not to have his thinking as his work.

Founder of several journals and groups of writers, Bataille is the author of an oeuvre both abundant and diverse, published partly under a pseudonym: readings, poems, essays on innumerable subjects (on the mysticism of economy, in passing of poetry, philosophy, the arts, eroticism...). He was relatively ignored in his lifetime, but has had considerable influence after his death on authors such as Michel Foucault, Philippe Sollers and Jacques Derrida, all of whom were affiliated with the Tel Quel journal.

Principal works:

• Madame Edwarda, 1937 (under pseudonym of Pierre Angélique).
• L'expérience intérieure, 1943. (The Inner Experience)
• La part maudite, 1949 (The Damned Part)
• La littérature et le Mal, 1957. (Literature and Evil)
• Les larmes d'Éros, 1961.