Celebration of Alice Jardine's New Book, "At the Risk of Thinking: An Intellectual Biography of Julia Kristeva"

Date: 

Wednesday, February 19, 2020, 4:00pm

Location: 

Forum Room in the Lamont Library (Lamont 335), 11 Quincy St, Cambridge, MA 02138

Please join us in celebrating Alice Jardine's new book, At the Risk of Thinking: An Intellectual Biography of Julia Kristeva (Bloomsbury Press, 2020). This event features a reception and a conversation with Ann Pellegrini, Professor of Performance Studies and Social and Cultural Analysis at NYU. 

At Risk of Thinking is the first biography of Julia Kristeva, one of the world's most celebrated intellectuals. Reviewers say: 

“Alice Jardine's intellectual biography of Julia Kristeva is breathtaking. Exploring the relationship between Kristeva's life and her writings, Jardine reflects not only on the powerful influences on Kristeva's thinking and the importance of Kristeva's work for contemporary culture, but also on what it means to write a biography. Beautifully written and full of insight, Jardine's biography is a must read for anyone interested in French Theory and Kristeva's definitive role in its development.” – Kelly Oliver, W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy, Vanderbilt University, USA

“People, cities, vibrant seminar rooms, intellectual and amorous encounters: following the thread of Kristeva's books, Alice Jardine takes us on a journey across shifting social and political landscapes in her passionate biographical account of one of the most important thinkers of our epoch.” – Miglena Nikolchina, Professor of Literary Theory, University of Sofia, Bulgaria

“With a light and magical touch, Alice Jardine narrates the story of Julia Kristeva's journey from the Black Sea to the Atlantic to the expanse of human singularity. In her intimate account, Jardine shows how Kristeva became one of the most extraordinary intellectuals of our era. Scholars will be delighted with new biographical nuggets, such as why it was that Lacan didn't make it to that trip to China. But more, for every reader, here is is a story that will inspire us all to think more deeply, to revolt against preconceptions, and--instead of being shaped by the Big Other--to become our own force in creating the meaning of our lives.” – Noëlle McAfee, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Psychoanalytic Studies Program, Emory University, USA

photo of Alice JardineAlice Jardine is Professor of Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality and Professor of Romance Languages and Literatures at Harvard University. Her publications include The Future of Difference (1980), Gynésis: Configurations of Woman and Modernity (1985), Living Attention: On Teresa Brennan (2007), and, as translator, Julia Kristeva's Desire in Language: A Semiotic Approach to Literature and Art (ed. Leon Roudiez, trans. Thomas Gora, Alice Jardine and Leon Roudiez, 1980).

This event is free and open to the public, but requires a Harvard ID or other picture ID to enter the Lamont Library. A WGS staff member will be waiting in the lobby to assist non-Harvard attendees.  

This event is cosponsored by Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality and the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, Harvard University.