contains the excellent Writers, Intellectuals, Teachers and the seminal Death of the Author and, as such, is worth reading for those reasons alone. Structural Analysis of Narratives was a bit technical for me not coming from an academic-linguistic background. Walked away from it with the same feeling I get from most of Barthes's writing: a compendium of great ideas, none developed to any satisfactory level of depth. I often get the sense Barthes intended these essays to be provocations and preliminary writing than self-contained or holistic theories. ( )

A provocative and exhilarating collection of essays, at once offering insights into structuralist semiotics and rushing in a paradoxical call for alternative ways of assessing signs, of displacing meaning. A gateway into the experimental potential of the essay, and "non-fiction" in general. Enjoyed the way in which Barthes constantly refutes and contradicts himself, sometimes in the same essay, to dilute the mythical authority of the intellectual figure and to reinforce in the reader a critical sensitivity. Definitely a challenging read, even more so with the references to Marxism and especially (mainly Lacanian) psychoanalysis. Really want to say that this is a life-changing book, as that is how I feel right now. I guess we'll see.

very good for reading about literature theories

A collection of short essays on the use of word and image together. Some really strong ones, some that lag a little, but typically brilliant observations by Barthes. ( )

Likewise, for visual culture students (or anyone else interested in postmodern theory for that matter), 'The Death of the Author' (pp.142-148) is pretty important too. ( )