In recent years there has been a renewed interest in the work of Rene
Girard, thought by many to be one of the most important, if
controversial, cultural theorists of the twentieth century. Girard's
work is extraordinarily innovative and wide-ranging, cutting across
central concerns in philosophy, psychoanalysis, literary theory,
anthropology, theology, and sociology.


In this much-needed introduction, Chris Fleming traces the development
of Girard's thought over forty years, describing the context in which he
worked and his...