Well Benjamin's unorthodox Marxism has earned him a few (Marxist) critics, but a fraud? a crank? Benjamin is by all accounts considered one of the more original writers we've had. I suppose you'd think Sontag also gave her best New York Intellectual effort when praising Adorno's writing? Such calumny is heresy as you well know! But I'm sure you base your accusations of obscurantism on your reading of Benjamin in the original . . . .   FM