To Follow: The Wake of Jacques Derrida

Peggy Kamuf writes both in the wake of Jacques Derrida's work and on the wake of his death. Some of her essays were written before Derrida's passing in 2004 and some were written after, thus mirroring the way in which Derrida's work on mourning became more pressing and relevant after his death. By disturbing the linear chronology of a "before" and an "after," Kamuf enables new readings and interpretations of Derrida and his influence.

Each of these essays is written in response to a particular context, occasion, or event. A majority analyze issues arising in Derrida's work, from the 1960s to the posthumous publication of his teaching seminars. Three chapters deal with Derrida outside of his writing, reflecting on media interviews, the film D'ailleurs Derrida (2000), and affective relations to the U.S, and three chapters revisit aspects of Kamuf's friendship with Derrida and her translation of his works. An afterword muses on the book's essential continuity over time, tone, and subjects.