Roland Barthes was born in 1915 and studied French literature and classics at the University of Paris. After teaching French at universities in Romania and Egypt, he joined the Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, where he devoted himself to research in sociology and lexicology. He was a professor at the College de France until his death in 1980.
Obsessed with thinking about thinking, Barthes' life was a stylish intellectual adventure. He was also a hedonist, a meticulous dresser, gay, sensitive, sardonic, sociable, gossipy. He made reading a sacrament. With his unique vision, Barthes has helped us to read the world * Independent on Sunday * Only lightweights read gushy coffee-table books of the 'Monsieur X is the best designer in the world!' variety; to be truly hardcore, get your hands on Roland Barthes' The Fashion System. Struggle to the end of this and, boy, will you feel clever * Guardian * Barthes was an enormously alluring, sympathetic and sexy character * Independent *