"Nadir Lahiji's Adventures with the Theory of the Baroque and French Philosophy provides, as promised, a genuine intellectual adventure. Using an encyclopedic knowledge of recent French philosophy and his impressive background in architecture, Lahiji constructs a breathtakingly new theory of the baroque that completely alters previous understandings of the concept. This is required reading for anyone interested in the baroque or in contemporary French philosophy." --Todd McGowan, Associate Professor, The University of Vermont, USA "With Adventures with the Theory of the Baroque and French Philosophy Nadir Lahiji has produced a first rate and thoroughgoing critical engagement with the enormous and challenging body of theoretical work on the baroque that has emerged primarily from late 20th-century French thought. Building on a careful reconstruction of the core philosophical issues at the heart of the Benjaminian, psychoanalytic, and Deleuzian permutations of the baroque question, Lahiji breaks new ground as he brings the theoretical edifice full circle to its very source in the contemplation of architecture." --William Egginton, Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities, The Johns Hopkins University, USA "Nadir Lahiji's engagement with the baroque is a most remarkable intellectual achievement. It scrutinizes the baroque in all its multifaceted and contradictory aspects, presenting not merely its historical context and value, but placing it at the heart of contemporary theoretical and political strives.

Lahiji examines the very nature of modernity, confronting Lacan's and Deleuze's take on it, rereading Benjamin's classical account and proposing a devastating critique of the 'neobaroque' in modern architecture. Great joy to read and a great challenge for thought." --Mladen Dolar, Professor of Philosophy, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia.