Five Plays of Strindberg
by August Strindberg
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CREDITORS: a tragi-comedy shows a naturalistic, rather ironic view of the corrosive effects of passion. CRIME AND CRIME: a comedy where Strindberg further develops the Swedenborgian view that crime is its own punishment; something of a psychological thriller. DANCE OF DEATH: a drama in two parts where a Captain returns after fifteen years abroad, divorced and robbed of his children. The wife is blamed for the disastrous marriage. SWANWHITE: a fairy play in three acts, it is a treasure-chest show more full of the truth that lies in fairy tales and brimful of magic and romance. THE GREAT HIGHWAY: a wayfaring drama with seven stations is full of symbolism and imagery; the higher emotional moods are expressed in unrhymed verse, while the scenes in which he satirizes society, its institutions and its successful men are written in witty colloquial dialogue. show lessTags
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This volume of Elizabeth Sprigge's Strindberg translations is not as solid as the first, but it does have both parts of "The Dance of Death," which I think MIGHT be Strindberg's greatest play.
I don't know how to say this in a more mature critical fashion, but for me Strindberg was at his best when he allowed himself to go OUT OF HIS MIND, and just pull out every last stupid stop of taste and logic. In "The Dance of Death" we start with what seems to be a naturalistic character study of complicated relationships, and proceed from there into OH MY WTF IS THIS with characters doing ludicrous Hussar dances in boots (and then collapsing on the floor) and throwing each other down and biting each other on the necks. Is it ridiculous? show more Probably. But it's also unforgettable, and I would LOVE to see it staged with great actors -- they'd need to be great to pull this monster off.
Imagine something that starts out like a dark G. B. Shaw play that is then swallowed by a Bosch painting on the wall that grows and swallows everyone. That's "The Dance of Death." show less
I don't know how to say this in a more mature critical fashion, but for me Strindberg was at his best when he allowed himself to go OUT OF HIS MIND, and just pull out every last stupid stop of taste and logic. In "The Dance of Death" we start with what seems to be a naturalistic character study of complicated relationships, and proceed from there into OH MY WTF IS THIS with characters doing ludicrous Hussar dances in boots (and then collapsing on the floor) and throwing each other down and biting each other on the necks. Is it ridiculous? show more Probably. But it's also unforgettable, and I would LOVE to see it staged with great actors -- they'd need to be great to pull this monster off.
Imagine something that starts out like a dark G. B. Shaw play that is then swallowed by a Bosch painting on the wall that grows and swallows everyone. That's "The Dance of Death." show less
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855+ Works 11,131 Members
August Strindberg was born in Stockholm, Sweden on January 22, 1849. He was educated at the University of Uppsala in Sweden, but left without a degree. He began to write while supporting himself at a variety of jobs, including journalist and librarian. He wrote several novels including The Red Room and Black Banners, but was best known as a show more playwright. His plays include The Father, Miss Julie, Creditors, A Dream Play, and The Ghost Sonata. He also wrote an autobiography entitled The Son of a Servant. He died on May 14, 1912 at the age of 63. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1960
- Disambiguation notice
- Use this page only for editions containing the plays Creditors/Crime and Crime/The Dance of Death (pts 1&2)/Swanwhite/The Great Highway.
Classifications
- Genre
- Fiction and Literature
- DDC/MDS
- 839.72 — Literature & rhetoric German & related literatures Other Germanic literatures Swedish literature Swedish drama
- LCC
- PT9811 .A3 .S58 — Language and Literature German, Dutch and Scandinavian literatures Swedish literature Individual authors or works 19th century Strindberg, Johan August
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- English
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- ISBNs
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