Jacques Derrida had a major influence on twentieth century philosophy and the idea of postmodernism. Challenging some of the deepest assumptions of the Western philosophical tradition, he is most renowned—or condemned—for his engagement with the movement that he called 'deconstruction.'

In this Very Short Introduction, Simon Glendinning explores both the difficulty and significance of the work of Derrida. Glendinning provides a clear sense of the centrality of Derrida's interest in Europe and his relationship to philosophy, to religious history, and to modern democratic politics.