Simply Beckett EPUB

by Katherine Weiss

Part of the Great Lives series

EPUB

Download - Immediately Available

Please note: eBooks can only be purchased with a UK issued credit card and all our eBooks (ePub and PDF) are DRM protected.

Description

"Katherine Weiss' Simply Beckett is a beautifully written book, one brimming with fresh critical insights. What is obvious is her utter command of her material. As part of the Simply Charly series, the book is designed for university students and theatergoers, but, in fact, it also appeals to scholars long familiar with Beckett's work. Drawing on history, politics, trauma, and memory, Weiss leads the reader through Beckett's plays in clear, engaging prose. In sum, Weiss' book has the reach and depth to make it one of the more important coordinates in Beckett scholarship."
-Matthew Roudane, Regents' Professor of English and Theater, Georgia State University

Born in Dublin on Good Friday,Â Samuel BeckettÂ (1906-1989) attended Trinity College and taught briefly in Belfast before moving to Paris, where he lived for most of his adult life. Deeply influenced by James Joyce, who became a close friend and mentor, he published poetry, novels, essays, and reviews before stunning Paris, and eventually the rest of the world, with his playÂ Waiting for GodotÂ in 1953. Famously described by one critic as â€œa play in which nothing happens, that yet keeps audiences glued to their seats,â€Â GodotÂ redefined dramatic structure and showcased Beckettâ€™s commitment to an art based on the ideas of â€œnon-knowingâ€ and powerlessness.

InÂ Simply Beckett, professorÂ Katherine WeissÂ provides a highly accessible and insightful introduction to the award-winning author and his paradoxical works, with a particular focus on Beckettâ€™s theater activities, both as a writer and director. Through discussion of the written texts, significant productions of the plays, and audience and critical reactions to Beckettâ€™s work, Weiss helps the reader understand the groundbreaking nature of his achievements and points the way toward a greater appreciation of his oeuvre.

Combining admirable erudition with reader-friendly style,Â Simply BeckettÂ is a fascinating journey into the world of an author whose work went to the heart of the human condition.