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Capek Four Plays

R. U. R.; The Insect Play; The Makropulos Case; The White Plague
Series: World Classics
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( 76 ratings, 14 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
This volume includes four of Karel Čapek's most celebrated plays, newly translated for contemporary readers. R.U.R. introduces the concept of robots, exploring their gradual dominance over human life except reproduction. The Insect Play uses insects to personify various philosophical outlooks in a satirical manner. The Makropulos Case reflects on mortality and the value of an average lifespan through a fantastical storyline. The White Plague delivers a poignant critique of fascist dictatorships and the spread of inhumanity.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$5499
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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?

Readers interested in classic European drama, social satire, and early science fiction will find this collection highly engaging. It suits those who appreciate thought-provoking and socially conscious theatre.

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"There was no writer like him. . . prophetic assurance mixed with surrealistic humour and hard-edged social satire: a unique combination" (Arthur Miller)

"There was no writer like him. . . prophetic assurance mixed with surrealistic humour and hard-edged social satire: a unique combination" (Arthur Miller)

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

"There was no writer like him... prophetic assurance mixed with surrealistic humour and hard-edged social satire: a unique combination" (Arthur Miller)

Capek Four Plays brings together fresh new translations of four of his most popular plays, more than ever relevant today. In R. U. R., the Robot - an idea Čapek was the first to invent - gradually takes over all aspects of human existence except procreation. The Insect Play is a satirical fable in which beetles, butterflies, and ants give dramatic form to different philosophies of life. The Makropulos Case is a fantasy about human mortality, finally celebrating the average lifespan. The White Plague is a savage and anguished satire against fascist dictatorship and the virus of inhumanity.

Series: World Classics

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  • Capek Four Plays
    "There was no writer like him... prophetic assurance mixed with surrealistic humour and hard-edged social satire: a unique combination" (Arthur Miller) Capek Four Plays brings together fresh new translations of four of his most popular plays, more than ever relevant today. In R. U. R., the Robot - an idea Čapek was the first to invent - gradually takes over...
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    Meyer's translations of Ibsen are a major fact in one's general sense of post-war drama. Their vital pace, their unforced insistence on the poetic centre of Ibsen's genius, have beaten academic versions from the field (George Steiner). The plays shine freshly from the pages ... This will be our definitive Ibsen. (JC Trewin) Ibsen Plays: 4 contains Ibsen's first great...
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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?

Esteemed playwright Arthur Miller praised Čapek for his "prophetic assurance mixed with surrealistic humour and hard-edged social satire," highlighting his distinctive literary combination.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780413771902

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 13 September 1999

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Methuen Drama

Contributors:

  • Translated by Cathy Porter
  • Translated by Peter Majer

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 122.0mm

Height: 200.0mm

Weight: 404g

Pages: 320

About the Author

'There was no writer like him... He made it possible to actually invent worlds, and with laughter into the bargain. This prophetic assurance was mixed with a brand-new surrealistic humour, and it was honed to hard-edged social satire, still a unique combination'. - Arthur Miller. Karel Capek (1890-1938) was one of the most original Czech writers of the 1920s and 30s, whose works were the inspiration for much of the science fiction of Europe and America. Endlessly inventive and extraordinarily prescient, full of humour and wit, his plays explore and defend man's humanity. He is known for RUR where the robot - an idea Capek was the first to invent - gradually takes over all aspects of human existence except procreation; The Insect play, a satirical fable in which beetles, butterflies and ants give dramatic form to different philosophies of life; The Makropulos Case, which examines human mortality, finally celebrating the average lifespan and The White Plague, a savage and anguished satire against fascist dictatorship and the virus of inhumanity.

Also by Karel Capek

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  • RUR & War with the Newts
    Written against the background of the rise of Nazism, War with the Newts concerns the discovery in the South Pacific of a sea-dwelling race, which is enslaved and exploited by mankind. In time they rebel, laying siege to the strongholds of their former masters in a global war for supremacy. R.U.R., or Rossum's Universal Robots, seen by many as a...
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  • The Gardener's Year
    The Gardener's Year is a charming and light-hearted insight into the life of an amateur gardener. Structured loosely around what to plant, grow, or cultivate each month, Karel Capek takes us on a rollicking journey through a year in his own small garden. Complete and unabridged. Part of the Macmillan Collector's Library; a series of stunning, pocket-sized classics with ribbon...
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