The Work of Enchantment

by Matthew Del Nevo (Editor)

Overview

The Work of Enchantment suggests that it is a lack of "enchantment" in rich, developed countries that causes soul-starved Westerners to experience mental (and sometimes physical) illness. Del Nevo argues that this "enchantment" is most often experienced in childhood, but can also be found in adulthood, particularly through art. However, adults must cultivate within themselves the ability to appreciate art by reading, listening, and gazing activities often misconceived in advanced industrial societies.

Del Nevo describes the framework of enchantment and its philosophical and historical roots. He then concentrates on the work of enchantment within literature, considering what enchantment might entail taking the works of Proust, Rilke, and Goethe as examples. Del Nevo shows how a sense of enchantment forms within and between art works, using his literary examples, as well as between the work and the audience. The reader will learn along the way that enchantment may be found in the power of words, as an expression of the desire of the soul, a compliment of melancholy, and in art that points to something beyond itself.

Enchantment may be found in many places, ranging from philosophy, religion, and psychology to sociology and culture, but here Del Nevo focuses on literature. His audience is people who are searching for something beyond money or glamour perhaps the meaning of art and culture. His focus on literary masterpieces such as the Duino Elegies, Remembrance of Things Past, Wilhelm Meister's Journeyman Years, and others will make it of interest to those in cultural studies. Well written and engaging, and accessible to non-specialist readers, this unusual work in philosophy and aesthetics is free of jargon and complicated verbiage. Inspiring and enlivening, it is, in the author's words, "a stirring call to idleness."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138517172
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/28/2017
Pages:	178
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Introduction; 1: The Importance of Enchantment; 2: A New Priority; 3: “A little patch of yellow wall”; 4: “Nothing more than a few words”; 5: Vinteuil’s Sonata; 6: The Proper Name; 7: Narcissus; 8: Narcissus Later; 9: The Turning; 10: Dark Enchantment; 11: “The little rust-colored sail”; 12: The Frame of Enchantment; 13: The Devil’s Work; 14: The Joy of Enchantment

Editorial Reviews

"[T]ruly enchanting… [H]e both inspires and informs to an astonishingly great degree… Del Nevo’s book is like a weaving that takes readers out of the de-souling of today’s world and its ubiquitous anxiety. He treats Proust, Rilke, and Goethe, the three giants of enchantment, as icons through which one’s own work can be done. Sharing his deep knowledge and feeling for their writing, Del Nevo helps readers reexperience the appreciation of ineffability, sadly neglected and maligned these days. The chapters on Proust, Rilke, and Goethe are equally beautiful. They encourage humanizing one’s life and the world—leaving behind being "dead among dead things." Finally, readers need to give time to this work of enchantment; the cultivation of a gentle presence happens gradually. Overall, this brilliant book offers something that is most necessary: enchanted hope for futuristic humanism… Highly recommended." —S. Correa, CHOICE “The Work of Enchantment is a pick for college-level philosophy and cultural studies collections and poses that it’s a lack of “enchantment” that causes Westerners to experience mental illness. This enchantment can largely be found in art, but adults need to cultivate their ability to read, listen and absorb this art. Del Nevo offers a discussion of the historical and philosophical roots of enchantment, focuses on works in literature and providing literary examples of this lost art. This could have been reviewed in our literary section but is featured here for its broader appeal beyond the literary category.” —The Midwest Book Review, California Bookwatch – Reviewer’s Choice “How refreshing to find a celebration of Beauty at a time when relativism famously mocks it, alongside Truth and Goodness. How comforting, as well, to revisit literary masterpieces that speak to our deepest sensibilities; to reaffirm the never-ending need that each of us has - or certainly should have - for soul-nourishment. Call it enchantment, or grace, or love; this book takes it seriously and enchants in turn.” —Juliana Geran Pilon, Ph.D,Director, Center for Culture and Security, Institute of World Politics, and author of Soulmates: Resurrecting Eve “This is a beautiful book, immersed in the writings of three great artists—Proust, Rilke, Goethe—and their task of enchanting. In a time when the study of the humanities is in danger of perishing in our universities, and when religion, in its various forms, faces dissolution in the face of varieties of fundamentalism or simply inertia, and when culture is dazzled by its own glamour we are called back to read, to listen, to gaze upon the art whose enchantment is nourishment for the soul, and without which we cannot truly live.” —David Jasper, University of Glasgow, Renmin University of China “Matthew Del Nevo has written a highly personal and deeply felt affirmation of enchantment. Del Nevo argues that reflection on enchantment, in all of its many dimensions, is by no means a monopoly of literary and philosophical speculation but also a requirement of all who wish to embrace a life free of materialism, superficiality, and bad faith. Those readers who share this vision, and those who are unpersuaded, will benefit from reading this passionate and committed book.” —Peter Baehr, Chair Professor of Social Theory and Dean of Social Sciences, Lingnan University, Hong Kong and Boston University­­­­­­­­­­­­ “In both content and style, this book lives up to its theme—enchantment. Operating within the frame of critical social theory and steering clear of both conventional religion and the platitudes of New Ageism, Matthew Del Nevo, through an analysis of Proust, Rilke, and Goethe, compellingly makes the case (even to the nonbeliever) for the need of the soul for enchantment as a way to challenge the vicissitudes (disenchantment) of modern corporate capitalism.” —Warren S. Goldstein, Center for Critical Research on Religion and Harvard University “I am impressed by Matthew Del Nevo’s integrity as a philosopher and as a writer. His observations are never mundane or humdrum. He writes with a sense of urgency—a call to the better side of our nature in an age where we are coming to be increasingly dominated by the technocrats, not least in the discipline of philosophy. I commend his work to anyone seeking a guide to the human heart and soul, and their various expressions in modern culture.” —Geoffrey Klempner, Director of the International Society for Philosophers “Matthew Del Nevo addresses the lack of enchantment—the poverty—of our time by turning us to great works of literature. He weaves culture critical analysis with a revivification of the value of enchantment as soul work.” —Peter Banki, New York University and School of Humanities and Languages, University of Western Sydney “What a strange book is that of Matthew Del Nevo!” —Sophie Jabès “I would without hesitation recommend this book to friends, health professional colleagues, and students alike. It gives a valuable insight into ‘soul-work,’ which must be a part of any kind of healing. It is both balm and nectar for the soul. Human flourishing needs the insights that this book contains.” —Catherine Willis, University of Sydney

From the Publisher