Customer Reviews

The Dramatic Works of Samuel Beckett: Volume III of The Grove Centenary Editions (Works of Samuel Beckett the Grove Centenary Editions)

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Samuel Beckett's status as possibly the greatest dramatist of the twentieth century is unquestionable, and in this attractive volume, Grove Press has compiled all of his plays (with the exception of "Eleutheria," which Beckett suppressed and refused to translate), a complete collection previously available only in an expensive out-of-print Faber edition.

This is one in a series of four volumes publishing almost all of Beckett's oeuvre. The volume includes classics like "Waiting for Godot," "Happy Days," "Endgame" and "Krapp's Last Tape" in addition to classic shorter plays such as "Breath."

I was apprehensive about buying the Grove edition sight unseen: in the past, my copies of their paperbacks haven't held up so well (in particular my copy of Beckett's "Molloy/Malone Dies/The Unnamable", which is not only printed in an unattractive font but the spine of which cracked on nearly my first reading). But this is a beautiful hardcover volume, matching the rest of the Beckett set, with cover art of the Godotian tree, and featuring Beckett's own translations of his French-language plays. Brief introductory notes by Paul Auster and Edward Albee (in the latter note, Albee comments - surprisingly - that his favorite Beckett work are the later plays rather than the standards such as "Godot"). These introductions are short, but the dramatic work of Beckett is so fantastic and varied that nothing could do it justice but simply to begin reading.

One of the most beautiful books I have ever read/owned. A comprehensive, luminary, brilliant collection of Beckett thirty-two dramatic works including Waiting for Godot, Happy Days, Words and Music, Eh Joe, Krapp's Last Tape, Ghost Trio,...but the Clouds..., What Where. Beckett is well known for his Waiting for Godot, but I think, of this brilliant collection, Endgame is superior. His aesthetics in it is both more subliminal and corporeal. And penetrates deep in the mind's soul, where the imaginative is free to roam freely. He is able to in Endgame subverts the limitation of words, and use words to reinforce the concept that there is no limitation to words (as soon as it becomes sound/shadow/breath: basic tools of existence). Whereas, Waiting for Godot focuses language from an existential standpoint. I would have loved to see Footfalls and Ghost Trio in a real theater instead of the theater of the mind because of its strong physicality and interval/spacialness of time. That Time, my favorite of his short short dramatic work, appeals to me because of Beckett's aptitude for fluidity. For the first time, I finally understood not from a theoretical standpoint what it means when language comes to full circle. The language of That Time is poignant because it plays on that concept of circle and motion and movement and materiality on a semantic level. I savored That Time with much delight.

Beautiful book. Love it. Perfect for a super nice but reasonable priced gift.

Beckett: A unique voice and an important writer who captured the post apocalyptic fear, loneliness and humor of the mid to late twentieth century.

I ordered the "box set" of all four about a year ago. I had to wait 4 months for it to be delivered but it was worth it. A wonderful collection of his work. I read the play, then watch the DVD on Becket on tape. These books are good quality. Not the best on the planet, but more than acceptable. I am really glad I bought them, and that I okay'd the continuation of the order when Amazon told me of the delay. These books, and the Becket on tape of in the top 3 things I am glad I bought from Amazon.

To all Beckett lovers - this is the ultimate, yet cheap, edition. All plays are there. The only compromise is the quality of the paper.

I will never buy high-falutin' literature again. Cerebral constipation comes to mind.
If you find yourself interested in this fellow's work I suggest you support your local public library.