In the last decades of the twentieth century, French poststructuralist 'theory' transformed the humanities. Yet it also met with resistance, and today we frequently hear that theory is 'dead'. Brilliantly argued and clearly written, this is an account of the past and present fortunes of theory, suitable for anyone researching, teaching, or studying in the field. It also maps out a way forward for the humanities in which theory will play a crucial part. Colin Davis: reconsiders key arguments for and against theory, identifying significant misreadings reassesses the contribution of poststructuralist thought to the issues of knowledge, ethics, hope and identitysheds new light on the work of Lyotard, Levinas, Althusser and Kristeva offers a fresh perspective on recent debates on the death of theory. In closing, he argues forcefully that theory may change, but it will not go away.