The Collected Stories of Noël Coward
by Noël Coward
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This one-volume edition contains the complete collection of Coward's twenty short stories, spanning fifty years of his working life. Written with Coward's inimitable poise and wit, the stories variously describe back-stage intrigues, Hollywood champagne breakfasts, suburban romances and gossip round the captain's table. He reveals himself as a consummate prose stylist demonstrating why, for all his success in virtually every other field of entertainment, he returned again and again to the show more short story. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Woah! This was quite a journey. Coward is a writer with an extensive vocabulary and his stories are essentially character studies mixed with specific social situations that bring out the best, and worst, of his personages. Some of the stories were a miss, but most were strong, entertaining, and meaningful. I felt this was a great selection of short stories and that it offers those interested in them, or literature of the era, a great selection of works.
4 stars - and well earned!
4 stars - and well earned!
An excellent collection of stories by a master story teller. As good as Maugham in characterisation, incident and style. Wiity elegant and stylish prose that sparkles and shines. Satisfying in every way.
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298+ Works 5,612 Members
In 1964, when Hay Fever (1925) was placed in the repertory of the newly organized National Theatre, Noel Coward professed to be grateful: "Bless you for admitting that I'm a classic." A week-long series of Coward played on BBC television in 1969; there have been major revivals in London and New York; plays long out of print have been republished show more in popular collections. At the start of the 1960s, though, Coward's reputation had been at an ebb, as he skirmished with the angry new drama. Coward had enjoyed no big success since Blithe Spirit of 1941. There have been attempts to assimilate the rehabilitated Coward to contemporary drama. Coward himself profited from the new freedom when, in 1965, his Song at Twilight discussed homosexuality, a subject that he had evaded throughout his career. A juvenile prodigy, Coward was by turns actor, director, composer, lyricist, autobiographer, and author of nearly 60 theater pieces. He even wrote screenplays, notably for In Which We Serve (1942) and Brief Encounter (1946). Although he specialized in light comedy, the so-called comedy of manners, he worked in many forms including patriotic spectacle, revue, musical, farce, even the problem play. Hay Fever, Blithe Spirit, and Private Lives (1930) have proved to be the most durable of his comedies, along with nine short plays presented as Tonight at 8:30. In each, characters demonstrate the combination of perpetual role playing, cool hedonism, and energizing self-absorption. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Collected Stories of Noël Coward
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- Members
- 166
- Popularity
- 196,594
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.88)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 8
- ASINs
- 2
