February 20

Born in 1907, he emerged as a leading figure in 20th-century French thought, writing on the relationship between literature and philosophy. His seminal works, including The Space of Literature and The Writing of the Disaster, explored the nature of writing and absence. He was closely associated with the existentialist movement and corresponded with Jean-Paul Sartre and Georges Bataille. Blanchot's writings introduced concepts such as the ‘death of the author’ and the ‘writing of the other,’ influencing later deconstructionist thought. In addition to his theoretical work, he published novels and short stories that blurred the line between fiction and criticism. His intellectual legacy continues to shape contemporary literary studies and post-structuralist philosophy.