Friedrich Durrenmatt: Selected Writings, Volume I, Plays

Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921–90) was a Swiss writer who was a major literary figure in the second half of the 20th century. He is known for his novel The Visit, which explores themes such as guilt by passivity, refusal of responsibility, greed, and political decay. These translations of his plays, fictions, and essays make his work available to a new generation of readers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 27 June 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Friedrich Dürrenmatt, a Swiss writer who lived from 1921 to 1990, emerged as one of the most significant literary figures of the second half of the 20th century. During the era of the cold war, he rivaled renowned writers such as Beckett, Camus, Sartre, and Brecht in terms of his influence on European letters. However, outside of Europe, Dürrenmatt is primarily known for his sole work, "The Visit." This remarkable author's extensive body of work, encompassing plays, fiction, and essays, is now accessible to the English-speaking world through these long-awaited translations.

Dürrenmatt's concerns are both timeless and deeply rooted in his Swiss perspective during the cold war. His plays, collected in the first volume of "Selected Writings," delve into profound themes such as guilt by passivity, the rejection of responsibility, greed, political decay, and the intricate interplay between justice and freedom. In "The Visit," for instance, an elderly woman who attains immense wealth returns to her childhood village, offering riches in exchange for the life of the man who once humiliated her. Joel Agees' masterful translation breathes new life into this play, along with four other notable works: "The Physicists," "Romulus the Great," "Hercules and the Augean Stables," and "The Marriage of Mr. Mississippi."

Despite his immense talent, Dürrenmatt has often been unfairly overlooked in the contemporary world of letters. These meticulously crafted and skillfully translated volumes aim to rectify that oversight, introducing a new generation of readers to the timeless brilliance of Dürrenmatt's greatest works. Through his profound insights and captivating storytelling, Dürrenmatt continues to resonate with audiences, reminding us of the enduring power of literature to explore the complexities of human existence and challenge our societal norms.

Weight: 662g
Dimension: 165 x 236 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226174266