French · 1915–1980
French critic and theorist who turned reading into philosophy. Born in Cherbourg, raised by his mother in Paris, he lost years to tuberculosis before becoming the central figure of French structuralism and post-structuralism. Writing Degree Zero examined style; Mythologies decoded everyday culture; S/Z dissected a Balzac story into codes; Camera Lucida mourned his mother through photography. His late work grew personal and lyrical. He died after being struck by a laundry van. The writing is seductive; the thinking is influential beyond measure.