Table of Contents

Introduction vii
The Limit of the Useful 1
I The Galaxy, the Sun, and Man 3
II Unproductive Expenditure 25
III The World of Private Expenditure 51
IV The Gift of Life 79
V Winter and Spring 89
VI War 95
VII Sacrifice 109
Preliminary Essays for The Accursed Share 135
Economy at the Scale of the Universe 137
Preliminary Notes to the Writing of The Accursed Share 149
The Accursed Share, or The Limit of the Useful: Drafts of Tables of Contents and Summary of Manuscripts 159
Dossier of Bataille's Notes and Outlines for The Limit of the Useful 171
Translators' and Editors' Notes 313
Bibliography 357

About the Author

Georges Bataille (1897-1962) was a French writer, essayist, and philosopher whose works include The Story of the Eye, The Blue of Noon, The Accursed Share, and Theory of Religion.

Cory Austin Knudson holds a visiting position in Comparative Literature at Eckerd College. His work has appeared in the Journal of Modern Literature, Postmodern Culture, and Environment, Space, Place.

Tomas Elliott is Assistant Professor of English at the New College of the Humanities at Northeastern University London.