The German Jewish philosopher and critic Walter Benjamin (1892-1940) witnessed first-hand some of the great historical events of the 20th century, meeting many of the leading modernist artists, writers and poets, and taking a critical stance on the dominant ideologies of the period - Marxism, Zionism and Technocracy. He died while fleeing the Nazis in 1940.

Introducing Walter Benjamin follows his life and work, tracing his influence on modern aesthetics and cultural history as well as his particular focus on the tension between Zionism and Marxism, and between word and image in modern art. Benjamin was also one of the first critics to recognize that a technology that could reproduce art could also destroy it. With its brilliant combination of words and images, this book is the ideal introduction to this key modern philosopher and critic of modern art.