Shestov has become the object of academic philosophical attention only since 1968. After the 1917 Russian Revolution Shestov became a significant voice in European philosophical existentialism, in his later life engaging with Blaise Pascal and Søren Kierkegaard, actively influencing the thought of Albert Camus, and corresponding with Martin Buber. Some of these philosophical relationships have received concentrated, though not exhaustive, critical attention (Maia Neto 1995). In addition, Shestov corresponded with and wrote an article on Edmund Husserl, which is the focus of one critical article.

Because of the Soviet ban on research and publication relating to Shestov, scholars inevitably found it difficult to define and establish Shestov as a philosopher. To begin with there was very little criticism outside the Paris émigré community. The two-volume biography on Shestov written by his daughter, Natalie Baranova-Shestova (1983), drew attention to the man and his work. Since the...