Most people most of the time want to live for ever. But there is another truth - the longing for oblivion. With pain, wit and humour, the art of Samuel Beckett variously embodies this truth, this ancient-enduring belief that it is better to be dead than alive, best of all never to have been born. Beckett is the supreme writer of an age which has created new possibilities and impossibilities even in the matter of death and its definition, an age of transplants and life-support. But how does a writer give life to dismay at ...
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Most people most of the time want to live for ever. But there is another truth - the longing for oblivion. With pain, wit and humour, the art of Samuel Beckett variously embodies this truth, this ancient-enduring belief that it is better to be dead than alive, best of all never to have been born. Beckett is the supreme writer of an age which has created new possibilities and impossibilities even in the matter of death and its definition, an age of transplants and life-support. But how does a writer give life to dismay at life itself, give life to the not-simply-welcome encroachments of death? After all, it is for the life, the vitality of their language that society values writers. As a young man, Beckett himself said of Joyce's words: "They are alive". Beckett became himself as a writer when he realized in his very words a principle of death. In cliches, which are dead but won't lie down. In a language and its memeto mori. In words which mean their own opposites, cleaving and cleaving. In the self-stultifying, or even suicidal fury that is styled the Irish bull. In what Beckett called the syntax of weakness. This book explores the relation between deep convictions about life or death and the incarnations which these take in the exact turns of a great writer, the realizations of an Irishman who wrote in English and in French, two languages with different apprehensions of life and death.
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. Book contains pencil markings. In fair condition, suitable as a study copy. No dust jacket. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 450grams, ISBN: 0198123582.
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. Book contains pen markings. In poor condition, suitable as a reading copy. No dust jacket. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 450grams, ISBN: 0198123582.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. 1993. hardcover. Signed and inscribed to Édith Fournier, Beckett's translator, by Eoin O'Brien, friend of Beckett. Fine in fine dust wrapper. DW showing light age and shelf wear. Lightly toned, text is crisp and clear and remains a very good copy.....We ship daily from our Bookshop.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. Size: 9x6x1; First Edition, First Printing. Gift Inscription on title page, otherwise very nice with No Writing in text. Ships with tracking the same or next business day from New Haven, CT. We fully guarantee to ship the exact same item as listed and work hard to maintain our excellent customer service.
