Walter Benjamin was one of the most original cultural critics of the twentieth century. "Illuminations" includes his views on Kafka, to whom he felt a close personal affinity; his studies on Baudelaire and Proust; as well as his essays on Leskov and Brecht's epic theater. Also included is his profound study "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction," an insightful discussion on translation as a literary form and Benjamin's theses on the philosophy of history. Hannah Arendt selected the essays for this volume and introduces them with a classic essay on Benjamin's life in dark times. Additionally, there is a foreword by Leon Wieseltier that examines Benjamin's enduring relevance for our time.