Bernard Henri-Levy

Left in Dark Times: A Stand Against the New Barbarism
By Bernard-Henri Lévy
Random House, 233 pages, $25

Yes, he’s a celebrity who wears expensive suits. But he’s a real-deal philosopher, too, so let’s put on our thinking caps and review the principles of Bernard-Henri Lévy’s political thought as presented in Left in Dark Times, a manifesto with a subtitle suitable for the barricades, A Stand Against the New Barbarism.  read more »

“I never wore a tie in my life. Even in very official circumstances. Which is very unusual for a Frenchman!”

Bernard-Henri Lévy was standing amid admirers at the 92nd Street Y after delivering the annual State of World Jewry address. The address had been mostly grim: Jewry is in peril, was the main idea. Also that Islamic radicalism is not to be tolerated.  read more »

Bernard-Henri Lévy undid the top three buttons of his shirt as soon as he was done with his oration last night. “Now I’m free!” he said. “My love of freedom goes till that. I never wore a tie in my life. Even in very official circumstances, I never wore a tie. Which is very unusual for a Frenchman!”

Mr. Lévy, the dramatic French intellectual with the wavy hair and the persistently bare chest, was standing amid a circle of admirers at the 92nd Street Y, minutes after delivering the annual State of World Jewry address. The address had been mostly grim: Jewry is in peril, was the main idea, and Israel is really good. Also that Islamic radicalism is not to be tolerated, and that to do so is to betray the principles of liberalism.

The Jewish people have never been more “lonely, vulnerable and threatened” than they are right now, Mr. Lévy said.

About 1,000 people had come to hear Mr. Lévy talk about this idea, among them Isabella Rosellini, former New Republic owner Marty Peretz and someone important from the French consulate. Also, Maer Roshan from Radar was there; he sat in the balcony with Portfolio media blogger Jeff Bercovici.  read more »