Allen Paul (writer)

Allen Paul (born 1935) is an American writer and historian, best known for his non-fiction works exploring themes of personal identity, societal alienation, and the search for meaning. His writing often incorporates elements of memoir and intellectual history, drawing upon his own experiences and extensive research to illuminate complex social and philosophical questions.

Paul's most significant work is arguably Kierkegaard and the Paradox of Self-Mastery (1981), a study of Søren Kierkegaard's philosophy and its relevance to modern self-understanding. This book established Paul as a leading interpreter of Kierkegaard's thought and influenced subsequent scholarship on the subject.

Other notable works include The Several Lives of a Victorian Doctor (2002), a biography of James Miranda Barry, a British military surgeon who was revealed to be a woman after death, and Katinka's Tail (2009), a memoir exploring his own life and experiences.

Paul's writing style is characterized by its intellectual rigor, its introspective nature, and its willingness to grapple with difficult and often uncomfortable truths. He is considered an important voice in contemporary intellectual discourse.