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The Caucasian Chalk Circle
Series: Modern Classics
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Check link for latest rating. ( 9,197 ratings, 359 reviews)
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The Caucasian Chalk Circle
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See moreInspired by the Chinese play Chalk Circle, and written at the close of World War II, this parable is set in the Caucasus Mountains of Georgia. It re-tells the tale of King Solomon and a child claimed and fought over by two women.
Inspired by the Chinese play Chalk Circle, and written at the close of World War II, this parable is set in the Caucasus Mountains of Georgia. It re-tells the tale of King Solomon and a child claimed and fought over by two women.
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
Written in exile during the Second World War, the story of Brecht's classic play, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, subverts an ancient Chinese tale—echoed in the Judgement of Solomon—in which two women claim the same child. The message of Brecht's parable is that resources should go to those who will make the best use of them. Thanks to the rascally judge, Azdak, one of Brecht's most vivid creations, this story has a happy outcome: the child is entrusted to the peasant Grusha, who has loved and nurtured it.
Published in Methuen Drama's Modern Classics series, this edition features an extensive introduction, Brecht's own notes on the play, and a full appendix of textual variants. It is the standard critical edition of the work, in an acclaimed translation by James and Tania Stern with W. H. Auden.
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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?
The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht is praised for its poetic and dramatic qualities, marking Brecht as a prominent figure in 20th-century literature. The Observer highlights him as one of the greatest poets and dramatists of the era, underscoring the play's enduring impact in arts and culture.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780413308504
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 01 June 1963
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Methuen Drama
Edition: New edition
Contributors:
- Translated by James Stern
- Edited by John Willett
- Edited by Ralph Manheim
- Translated by Tania Stern
- Translated by W. H. Auden
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 9.0mm
Width: 122.0mm
Height: 202.0mm
Weight: 176g
Pages: 144
About the Author
Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) is acknowledged as one of the great dramatists whose work has had a considerable influence on the theatre. His landmark plays include Mother Courage and Her Children, The Threepenny Opera, The Life of Galileo, and The Caucasian Chalk Circle. His plays and dramatic theory are central to the study of modern theatre.
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