In November 1924, in Berlin, the philosopher and theologian Walter Benjamin met the poet and atheist Bertolt Brecht. Although their first encounter was marked by a lack of rapport, their relationship grew closer over the following years, eventually developing into a profound friendship. Through an ongoing dialogue, they borrowed from and validated each other’s ideas: Benjamin found an analogy for Brecht’s principle of interrupting the action in epic theater within his own theory of "thought-images" (*Denkbilder*).
In the view of Hannah Arendt, the meeting between Brecht and Benjamin represented an encounter between "the greatest living German poet and the most important critic of his time." This volume collects Benjamin’s writings that expand upon Brecht’s ideas regarding theater and art, as well as commentaries on Brecht’s poetic works, a review of *The Threepenny Novel*, and recollections of conversations with "Bert." In a discussion with Theodor Adorno—held after the tragic death of his friend—Brecht confessed that he considered Benjamin to be "his best critic."