{"product_id":"the-burden-of-responsibility-blum-camus-aron-and-the-french-twentieth-century","title":"The Burden of Responsibility: Blum  Camus  Aron  and the French Twentieth Century","description":"\u003cp\u003eUsing the lives of the three outstanding French intellectuals of the twentieth century  renowned historian Tony Judt offers a unique look at how intellectuals can ignore political pressures and demonstrate a heroic commitment to personal integrity and moral responsibility unfettered by the difficult political exigencies of their time.  Through the prism of the lives of Leon Blum  Albert Camus  and Raymond Aron  Judt examines pivotal issues in the history of contemporary French societyantisemitism and the dilemma of Jewish identity  political and moral idealism in public life  the Marxist moment in French thought  the traumas of decolonization  the disaffection of the intelligentsia  and the insidious quarrels rending Right and Left. Judt focuses particularly on Blums leadership of the Popular Front and his stern defiance of the Vichy governments  on Camuss part in the Resistance and Algerian War  and on Arons cultural commentary and opposition to the facile acceptance by many French intellectuals of communisms utopian promise. Severely maligned by powerful critics and rivals  each of these exemplary figures stood fast in their principles and eventually won some measure of personal and public redemption.  Judt constructs a compelling portrait of modern French intellectual life and politics. He challenges the conventional account of the role of intellectuals precisely because they mattered in France  because they could shape public opinion and influence policy. In Blum  Camus  and Aron  Judt finds three very different men who did not simply play the role  but evinced a courage and a responsibility in public life that far outshone their contemporaries.  \"An eloquent and instructive study of intellectual courage in the face of what the author persuasively describes as intellectual irresponsibility.\"Richard Bernstein  New York Times\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44965135515701,"sku":"ByrdShop_0226414183","price":34.91,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780226414188.jpg?v=1770489526","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-burden-of-responsibility-blum-camus-aron-and-the-french-twentieth-century","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}