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A Life of Galileo
Series: Modern Plays
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Check link for latest rating. ( 19,494 ratings, 849 reviews)
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Format: Paperback / softback
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A Life of Galileo
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?
This play will appeal to readers interested in historical drama, the intersection of science and religion, and those who appreciate classic theatre with contemporary adaptations.
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See moreA play that "charts the seventeenth century scientist's extraordinary fight with the church over his assertion that the earth orbits the sun"--Amazon.com.
A new translation of Brecht's classic play by one of the leading dramatists of our time, Mark Ravenhill.
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
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Description
Arguably Brecht's greatest play, A Life of Galileo charts the seventeenth century scientist's extraordinary fight with the church over his assertion that the earth orbits the sun.
The figure of Galileo, whose ‘heretical’ discoveries about the solar system brought him to the attention of the Inquisition, is one of Brecht’s more human and complex creations. Temporarily silenced by the Inquisition’s threat of torture, and forced to abjure his theories publicly, Galileo continues to work in private, eventually smuggling his work out of the country.
Brecht's beautiful depiction of the explosive struggle between scientific discovery and religious fundamentalism is captured masterfully in this new translation by RSC writer-in-residence, Mark Ravenhill.
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Critics praise Mark Ravenhill's translation for its clarity, wit, and theatrical inventiveness. The Guardian highlights the "pellucid swiftness" with which the timeless debate about scientific morality is presented, while the Telegraph finds it "lively and ultimately moving." The Independent notes Ravenhill's emphasis on the dark comedy and rich theatricality of Brecht's text, and Time Out acknowledges his refreshing and witty voice. Overall, reviews celebrate the adaptation's ability to distil Brecht's complex themes into a compelling and engaging stage work.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781472507419
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 31 January 2013
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Methuen Drama
Contributors:
- Translated by Mark Ravenhill
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 10.0mm
Width: 130.0mm
Height: 196.0mm
Weight: 105g
Pages: 96
Collections
About the Author
Bertolt Brecht is acknowledged as one of the great dramatists whose plays, work with the Berliner Ensemble and writing have had a considerable influence on the theatre. His landmark plays include The Threepenny Opera and, while exiled from Germany and living in the USA, such masterpieces as Life of Galileo, Mother Courage and Her Children and The Caucasian Chalk Circle.
Mark Ravenhill is one of the most distinctive contemporary UK playwrights. He burst on to the theatre scene in 1996 with the huge hit Shopping and Fucking. He has continued to garner critical acclaim for plays that include Some Explicit Polaroids, Mother Clap’s Molly House, Shoot/Get Treasure/Repeat, A Life in Three Acts, and Ten Plagues. He is Writer in Residence at the RSC.
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