Strangers to Ourselves

This book by Julia Kristeva explores the notion of the 'stranger' or 'foreigner' in various cultural, historical, and philosophical contexts.

It delves into the experiences of foreigners and the internal sense of strangeness, contrasting cosmopolitanism with xenophobia.

Kristeva analyzes the legal and social status of foreigners throughout history, drawing examples from Greek tragedy, the Bible, and literature from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century.

She also reflects on her own experience as a foreigner in France and discusses how recognizing the foreigner within ourselves can lead to a deeper understanding of our own identities and the loss of boundaries between self and other.