The work of René Girard has become one of the most important of our time. But the mimetic theory (one of his names) applied primarily to literature and anthropology of religion. In this masterful book, which comes in the form of a dialogue, this theory shows its almost unlimited resources as throwing some interesting light on contemporary history, especially as it plays in the tumultuous relationship of France and Germany, and that relying on a text as little "literary" than "On War" Clausewitz. But it is feared that readers unfamiliar with the earlier work of Girard did not understand all the implications. It should read at least "Deceit and romantic truth" (for the link with literature), "Violence and the Sacred" (anthropological side), and also "Things hidden since the foundation of the world" (reveals the role of Christianity). For over a thousand pages, you need at least that to hope to penetrate a thought that is not so simplisiste as is sometimes said. (Alternatively, inevitably a little worse: Read a good summary of the work of Girard, I am thinking of "Figures of violence" by Eric Haeussler).
