This book provides a lively introduction to the work of Roland Barthes, one of the twentieth centurya s most important literary and cultural theorists. The book covers all aspects of Barthesa s writings including his work on literary theory, mass communications, the theatre and politics. Moriarty argues that Barthesa s writing must not be seen as an unchanging body of thought, and that we should study his ideas in the contexts within which they were formulated, debated and developed.