French Literature Reviews - 2026
Vincent Berthelier, The Style of Marx
Philosophy, Anthropology and Ideas
Karl Marx's theoretical and political work is not merely composed of concepts, but also of concrete images, striking formulations, and turns of phrase, an intertwining of languages, voices, and texts through which his theory is developed and presented for reading. His style, in a word, is not merely a surface feature, but the linguistic and sensory framework of his thought.
A specialist in the relationship between style, literature, and politics, Vincent Berthelier offers an original and non-dogmatic synthesis of literary interpretations of Marx. He thus illuminates how Marxian thought (and sometimes its unthought aspects) is embedded in literary forms, whether singular or collective, without neglecting the pleasure derived from the text itself.
Read the first pages of the work on Fabula…
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Launch event on Friday, April 4, at 7 PM at Utopia Bookstore, 1 rue Frédéric Sauton in the 5th arrondissement of Paris
The discussion will be moderated by Edoardo Cagnan and Marion Beauvallet, and followed by a Q&A with the audience and a reception.
The relationship between philosophical writing and literary form has long occupied scholars of nineteenth-century European thought. Marxian texts often deploy complex rhetorical strategies, satirical motifs, and diverse linguistic registers drawn from journalism, drama, and classical literature. By examining these elements, researchers in intellectual history and literary studies seek to understand how political economy and critical theory are mediated through specific textual devices and modes of expression. Readers interested in the intersections of literature, philosophy, and politics may find this volume relevant to their inquiries.
Vincent Berthelier focuses on how Marxian thought is embedded within concrete images, striking formulations, and intertextual networks. Rather than treating style as a superficial ornament, this study considers the linguistic and sensory framework of the texts while attending to the aesthetic dimension of reading. The volume synthesizes various literary interpretations of Marx without adhering to dogmatic frameworks. The discussion highlights the presence of both singular and collective literary forms across the broader corpus of his writings.