Author Description
This is the first comprehensive, critical survey of Brecht's poetry, from its beginnings in World War I to the 1950's, to appear in either English or German. Offering a new perspective on the poet's work, it draws on the most current publications and on unpublished archival material to relate the poems to Brecht's other writings and to set them in historical context. Individual texts-many not previously discussed elsewhere-are analyzed and many earlier readings of well known poems are reassessed.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This study investigates the evolution and thematic depth of Bertolt Brecht's poetic output from the First World War through the 1950s. Peter Whitaker, an established scholar in German studies, utilizes a combination of published collections and previously unexamined archival materials to construct a comprehensive framework for understanding Brecht's verse. By situating individual poems within their specific historical and political contexts, the author challenges existing interpretations and provides a rigorous analysis of Brecht's development as a writer.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Chronological analysis of Brecht's poetry from the First World War to the 1950s.
- Comparative study linking poetic works to Brecht's broader dramatic and theoretical writings.
- Examination of previously unpublished archival documents and source materials.
- Reassessment of established critical readings of canonical poems.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars and critics recognize this work as a foundational survey for those seeking a detailed academic examination of Brecht's poetic development. Readers frequently note the scholarly density of the prose and the author's meticulous attention to historical detail.
Page Count:
304
Publication Date:
1985-11-14
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0198155417
ISBN-13:
9780198155416
Poetry
Biography
History
Literary Criticism
German
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