Mircea Eliade

This book offers an explanation of Mircea Eliade's work and how it has exerted a powerful and lasting influence on the study of religion worldwide. Mircea Eliade's work and writing in his 30 years as Director of the History of Religions at the University of Chicago has exerted a powerful and lasting influence on the study of religion worldwide. This guide places Eliade in three major contexts, beginning with his work in the heavily European 'sciences of religion', which he brought to bear on American academic culture. The second context examined is Eliade's development of the University of Chicago tradition of the 'study of religion'. The meaning of this tradition at Chicago in particular and at American universities in general is examined. The final context tackled is the quixotic reception of Eliade on the American scene through the impact of his writings and his students. Continuum's "Guides for the Perplexed" are clear, concise and accessible introductions to thinkers, writers and subjects that students and readers can find especially challenging - or indeed downright bewildering.
Concentrating specifically on what it is that makes the subject difficult to grasp, these books explain and explore key themes and ideas, guiding the reader towards a thorough understanding of demanding material.