![]() ![]() Although Hudis alleges that postcolonial studies has denied the validity of humanist perspectives, in many ways Fanon’s humanism brings to mind that of Edward Said, arguably a central figure within postcolonial studies-if not its founder. Throughout the book central themes jump out at us, from Fanon’s love of psychiatry to the humanism that consistently underpinned his political projects. Nevertheless, Hudis makes clear decisions as to which issues to foreground, and it is here that the strength of the book lies. Because of its short length, parts of his life are not given as much detail as they perhaps should be – for this, David Macey’s (2012) biography of Fanon is perhaps unparalleled. ![]() The book is arranged chronologically, charting Fanon’s life from his childhood in Martinique to his death in the United States. This question recurs throughout the book: what is it about Fanon that makes him so relevant today? Fanon’s work and ideas have undoubtedly experienced a resurgence over the past decade and are used by scholars, activists and revolutionaries across the world. Interestingly, while Fanon certainly produced new insights that were intricately connected to the context within which he was immersed, it is also the case that these insights have become increasingly popular today. Throughout the book Hudis shows in detail how Fanon engaged with Hegel, Marx, Freud, and Sartre – and yet how he constantly broke away from them to posit what for him was always absent in their work: the question of race and racism. While this may seem obvious to those familiar with Fanon’s work, it is important to note the continuing division between those who experience life and those who produce theory.įanon in many ways produced a body of work that was new and refreshing that drew on many thinkers before and around him but that also broke from them in crucial ways. ![]() Indeed by naming Fanon a philosopher, Hudis already makes an assertion that is not commonly attributed to Fanon beyond critical theory, namely that Fanon produced theory and philosophy that his writing is not just a summary of his experiences. Deftly moving between theory and praxis, between life history and philosophical debate, Peter Hudis illuminates the rich theorising and commentary Fanon produced at various points in his life. Spanning a mere 139 pages, the book manages to bring to life the many issues, debates and causes Fanon was involved with throughout his short life. Frantz Fanon: Philosopher of the Barricades is a concise yet rich addition to this growing body of work. The resurgent interest in Fanon’s life and work has produced many excellent biographies and texts, among them David Macey’s Frantz Fanon: A biography (2012), Lewis Gordon’s What Fanon said (2015), Alice Cherki’s Frantz Fanon: A portrait (2006), Anthony Alessandrini’s Frantz Fanon: Critical Perspectives (2005), and Ato Sekyi-Otu’s Fanon’s dialectic of experience (1996). Frantz Fanon: Philosopher of the Barricades ![]()
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