Introduction Summary and Analysis

"Visions of Excess" is written over the years 1927 through 1939 by Georges Bataille. Selected writings are published as a book in 1985. "Visions of Excess" is an aptly titled. It is a philosophical study of the surrealist writer's thoughts, ideas and opinions about many different social, economic and philosophic issues. He records his childhood recollections after undergoing psychoanalysis in "[Dream]" that reveals several underlying themes and psychoses that drive his writing as an adult.

Georges Bataille lives from 1897 to 1962, and is a contemporary of philosopher Andre Breton. Born in Reims, France, Georges and his mother abandon his paralytic, blind, and syphilitic father when the Germans arrive there in 1915. Georges rebels against his father by quitting high school and becoming Catholic in 1913. He publishes his first pamphlet in 1918 to honor Cathedral Notre Dame des Reims and his Christian spirit but denies his faith by...