The death of the author in our times has assumed a significance perhaps comparable only to the death of God in the 19th century, yet no clear state ment of what is meant by this notion has appeared in critical theory. In this study, Sean Burke provides not only a detailed explanation of this movement, but shows also how the attempt to abolish the author is fundamentally misguided and philosophically untenable. Through close readings, Burke demonstrates that the concept of the author remained profoundly active even as its disappearaance was being articulated. He demolishes poststructuralist positions on the issue and proposes a revitalized concept of authorship for the modern era.