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The Father; A Dream Play; Miss Julie; The Ghost Sonata; The Dance of Death `Ibsen can sit serenely in his Doll's House,' Sean O'Casey remarked, `while Strindberg is battling with his heaven and his hell.' Strindberg was one of the most extreme, and ultimately the most influential theatrical innovators of the late nineteenth century. The five plays translated here are those on which Strindberg's international reputation as a dramatist principally rests and this edition embraces his crucial transition from Naturalism to Modernism, from his two finest achievements as a psychological realist, The Father and Miss Julie, to the three plays in which he redefined the possibilities of European drama following his return to the theatre in 1898. Michael Robinson's highly performable translations are based on the authoritative texts of the new edition of Strindberg's collected works in Sweden and include the Preface to Miss Julie, Strindberg's manifesto of theatrical naturalism. Introduction Textual Note Bibliography Chronology Explanatory Notes ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
These five plays capture the volatile intersection of human psychology and social constraint, marking a pivotal shift in the evolution of modern theatrical expression. Strindberg presents characters trapped by their own internal contradictions and the rigid hierarchies of their environments. Through a blend of naturalistic observation and later, more surrealist experimentation, the plays examine the power dynamics between men and women, the weight of heredity, and the fragility of the human psyche. The narrative framework relies on intense, claustrophobic dialogue that forces characters to confront their deepest anxieties and social failures.
Readers and critics frequently identify these plays as foundational texts for understanding the development of twentieth-century drama. Discussion often centers on Strindberg's ability to strip away social pretenses to reveal the raw, often brutal, motivations of his characters. Many observers highlight the stark contrast between the early naturalistic works and the later, more experimental plays that redefined theatrical possibilities. The collection is widely regarded as an essential resource for those interested in the evolution of psychological realism on stage. Scholars consistently praise the precision of these translations for maintaining the performative energy of the original Swedish texts.
Page Count:
368
Publication Date:
1998-01-01
Publisher:
OUP Oxford
ISBN-10:
0191605328
ISBN-13:
9780191605321
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