George Steiner

George Steiner was a renowned literary critic, essayist, philosopher, and cultural theorist born on April 23, 1929, in Paris, France. His family, of Austrian-Jewish descent, fled to the United States in 1940 to escape the advancing Nazi threat in Europe. Steiner's education was a testament to his cosmopolitan upbringing; he attended the University of Chicago, Harvard University, and Balliol College, Oxford, acquiring a deep and broad knowledge base that would inform his later work.

Steiner's intellectual career was both prolific and impactful. He made significant contributions to literary criticism, often addressing the intersections between literature, language, and society. Among his notable works are "After Babel," which explores the intricacies of language and translation, and "In Bluebeard's Castle," where he delves into the cultural and existential ramifications of the Holocaust. His writing was characterized by its erudition, depth, and his ability to draw connections across disciplines.

Throughout his career, Steiner held prestigious academic positions, including posts at Princeton University, the University of Geneva, and the University of Cambridge. Despite his sometimes controversial views, Steiner remained a towering figure in contemporary intellectual circles until his death on February 3, 2020. His legacy endures through his profound inquiries into the human condition and the power of language and literature.