Roger A. Crockett's comprehensive overview of Friedrich Durrenmatt's dramatic and narrative oeuvre reveals the international importance of one of Switzerland's most talented and scandalous playwrights. Durrenmatt gained fame beyond the Swiss borders in the early 1950s with the serialized detective novel ""The Judge and His Hangman"" and a series of radio dramas. His worldwide acclaim, however, rests largely on two dramas that have been canonized and anthologized as 20th-century classics of the world stage: ""The Visit"" ...
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Roger A. Crockett's comprehensive overview of Friedrich Durrenmatt's dramatic and narrative oeuvre reveals the international importance of one of Switzerland's most talented and scandalous playwrights. Durrenmatt gained fame beyond the Swiss borders in the early 1950s with the serialized detective novel ""The Judge and His Hangman"" and a series of radio dramas. His worldwide acclaim, however, rests largely on two dramas that have been canonized and anthologized as 20th-century classics of the world stage: ""The Visit"" (1956) and ""The Physicist"" (1962). In ""Understanding Friedrich Durrenmatt"", Crockett treats the acclaimed masterworks as well as the failures, following Durrenmatt's conviction that the latter are often as revealing about an author as the former. In addition to his thorough appraisal of Durrenmatt's dramatic canon, Crockett also provides careful readings of the dramatist's prose works. This introductory volume explores the playwright's chaotic universe, where God has retreated beyond the stars and where blind change is the real prime mover, justice is corruptible, ideologies useless and tragedy no longer possible. Yet despite the overriding pessimism of Durrenmatt's ""Weltanschauung"", the author argues that the playwright remains a genial master of comedy. Through the laughter he allows his reader to see that all is not lost, that there are virtues worth fighting for, and that there are still courageous Don Quixotes worthy of the title ""hero"". Crockett contends that as a theorist of the modern German stage, Durrenmatt stands toe to toe with Bertolt Brecht.
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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. 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, 600grams, ISBN: 1570032130.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. Clean from markings. In good all round condition. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 650grams, ISBN: 1570032130.
