Leon Chai is a professor of English and comparative literature at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

I would unhesitatingly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in how the history of thought impinges on current theoretical concerns. -- James Carey French Studies 2008 An excellent monograph, which should be required reading for those interested in the theoretical underpinnings of the Romantic period as well as Romantic scholars in general. -- G. Todd Davis BARS Bulletin and Review 2007 Fine new study... Chai's book makes a valuable contribution to the study of Romanticism. -- Thomas Pfau Red Orbit 2008 Chai's book will quickly occupy a place among those prominent recent works that have shaped the understanding of both Romanticism and our relationship to it. -- Brian Tucker Monatshefte 2008 This is a difficult but rewarding book. It will make its mark even on those readers least prepared to assent to Chai's arguments, and it is likely to instigate an intriguing debate. Wordsworth Circle 2007 Quite refined, and from such scholarship readers will surely benefit. -- Brad Prager Comparative Literature Studies 2008 Highly thought provoking study. Forum of Modern Language Studies 2009

• PrefaceAcknowledgments1. The Triumph of Theory2. Forms of Nostalgia3. The Movement of Return4. The House of Life5. Beyond Radical Empiricism6. Galois Theory7. Toward a Definition of Reflection8. The Dream of Subjectivity9. The Limits of TheoryConclusionEpilogueNotesBibliographic EssayPrimary SourcesIndex

Leon Chai is a professor of English and comparative literature at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

I would unhesitatingly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in how the history of thought impinges on current theoretical concerns. -- James Carey French Studies 2008 An excellent monograph, which should be required reading for those interested in the theoretical underpinnings of the Romantic period as well as Romantic scholars in general. -- G. Todd Davis BARS Bulletin and Review 2007 Fine new study... Chai's book makes a valuable contribution to the study of Romanticism. -- Thomas Pfau Red Orbit 2008 Chai's book will quickly occupy a place among those prominent recent works that have shaped the understanding of both Romanticism and our relationship to it. -- Brian Tucker Monatshefte 2008 This is a difficult but rewarding book. It will make its mark even on those readers least prepared to assent to Chai's arguments, and it is likely to instigate an intriguing debate. Wordsworth Circle 2007 Quite refined, and from such scholarship readers will surely benefit. -- Brad Prager Comparative Literature Studies 2008 Highly thought provoking study. Forum of Modern Language Studies 2009

• PrefaceAcknowledgments1. The Triumph of Theory2. Forms of Nostalgia3. The Movement of Return4. The House of Life5. Beyond Radical Empiricism6. Galois Theory7. Toward a Definition of Reflection8. The Dream of Subjectivity9. The Limits of TheoryConclusionEpilogueNotesBibliographic EssayPrimary SourcesIndex

Leon Chai is a professor of English and comparative literature at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

I would unhesitatingly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in how the history of thought impinges on current theoretical concerns. -- James Carey French Studies 2008 An excellent monograph, which should be required reading for those interested in the theoretical underpinnings of the Romantic period as well as Romantic scholars in general. -- G. Todd Davis BARS Bulletin and Review 2007 Fine new study... Chai's book makes a valuable contribution to the study of Romanticism. -- Thomas Pfau Red Orbit 2008 Chai's book will quickly occupy a place among those prominent recent works that have shaped the understanding of both Romanticism and our relationship to it. -- Brian Tucker Monatshefte 2008 This is a difficult but rewarding book. It will make its mark even on those readers least prepared to assent to Chai's arguments, and it is likely to instigate an intriguing debate. Wordsworth Circle 2007 Quite refined, and from such scholarship readers will surely benefit. -- Brad Prager Comparative Literature Studies 2008 Highly thought provoking study. Forum of Modern Language Studies 2009

• PrefaceAcknowledgments1. The Triumph of Theory2. Forms of Nostalgia3. The Movement of Return4. The House of Life5. Beyond Radical Empiricism6. Galois Theory7. Toward a Definition of Reflection8. The Dream of Subjectivity9. The Limits of TheoryConclusionEpilogueNotesBibliographic EssayPrimary SourcesIndex