Jacques Derrida had a major influence on twentieth century philosophy and the idea of postmodernism. Challenging some of the deepest assumptions of the Western philosophical tradition, he is most renowned--or condemned--for his engagement with the movement that he called 'deconstruction.' In this Very Short Introduction, Simon Glendinning explores both the difficulty and significance of the work of Derrida. Glendinning provides a clear sense of the centrality of Derrida's interest in Europe and his relationship to philosophy, to religious history, and to modern democratic politics.