The Chairs / Improvisation
by Eugène Ionesco
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Les Chaises is, so far, my favorite play of Ionesco's.
It took me an absurdly (...i love puns) long time to read it, mainly because I only found it in French and had to first brush up what French I used to know 7 years ago, but every single damn unknown word was worth it.
Plus, I can read in French again, so double win.
It took me an absurdly (...i love puns) long time to read it, mainly because I only found it in French and had to first brush up what French I used to know 7 years ago, but every single damn unknown word was worth it.
Plus, I can read in French again, so double win.
LE VIEUX : Il y avait un sentier qui conduisait à une petite place; au milieu, une eglise de village... Où était ce village ? Tu te rappelles ?
LA VIEILLE : Non, mon chou, je ne sais plus.
LE VIEUX : Comment y arrivait-on ? Où est la route ? Ce lieu s'appelait, je crois, Paris...
LA VIEILLE : Ça n'a jamais existé, Paris, mon petit.
LE VIEUX Cette ville a existé puisqu'elle s'est effondrée... C'était la ville de lumière puis-qu'elle s'est éteinte, éteinte, depuis quatre cent mille ans... Il n'en reste plus rien aujourdh'ui, sauf une chanson...
LA VIEILLE : Non, mon chou, je ne sais plus.
LE VIEUX : Comment y arrivait-on ? Où est la route ? Ce lieu s'appelait, je crois, Paris...
LA VIEILLE : Ça n'a jamais existé, Paris, mon petit.
LE VIEUX Cette ville a existé puisqu'elle s'est effondrée... C'était la ville de lumière puis-qu'elle s'est éteinte, éteinte, depuis quatre cent mille ans... Il n'en reste plus rien aujourdh'ui, sauf une chanson...
Jun 7, 2011French
Je rêve de la voir jouée, cette pièce
Jan 18, 2008French
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Author Information
Eugene Ionesco, born in Romania in 1912, is known as the father of the theater of the absurd. He grew up in France and Romania, settling in France in 1939. His first play, The Bald Soprano, satirized the deadliness of life frozen in meaningless formalities. Some of his other important plays include The Lesson, The Chairs, Rhinoceros, and Hunger show more and Thirst. His novel Le Solitaire was the basis for the 1971 film La Vase in which Ionesco played the lead. Eugene Ionesco was elected to the Academie Francaise in 1970. He died in 1994. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
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Gallimard, Folio (401)
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Chairs / Improvisation
- Original title
- Les chaises, suivi de L'impromptu de l'Alma
- Original publication date
- 22/04/1952
- Original language*
- Français
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
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- Members
- 120
- Popularity
- 270,307
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (3.77)
- Languages
- English, French, German, Spanish
- Media
- Paper
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 7
