RE: how to convert a string to a symbol?

[Drew Adams]

> > (setq str "(> 2 1)")
> > I want something like: (eval (string-to-symbol str))
> 
> (intern str)

And if you really want the value of the symbol (per your use of `eval' above):

(symbol-value (intern str))

But you might want to give it a value first ;-) -

(set (intern "(> 2 1)") 42)

(symbol-value '\(>\ 2\ 1\)) ; The answer is 42.

However, as always with questions of this type, one wonders what you are
_really_ trying to do (not to mention why)...