Jumpers [Paperback]

Tom Stoppard (Drawings)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 12, 1994

Murder, marriage and metaphysics—the three elements that link the bizarre series of events in Tom Stoppard’s high-spirited comedy, Jumpers. The protagonists include George Moore, an aging professor of moral philosophy whose quest to compose a lecture on ‘Man—Good, Bad or Indifferent’ is put on hold while he ponders the existence of his sock; his youthful wife Dotty, a former musical star on a downward spiral whose charm may explain the corpse in the next room; George’s specially trained hare, Thumper; and a chorus of poorly-trained gymnasts whose exploits set the stage for this topsy-turvy world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The new Radical Liberal Party has made the ex-Minister of Agriculture Archbishop of Canterbury, British astronauts are scrapping with each other on the moon, and spritely academics steal about London by night indulging in murderous gymnastics: this is the kind of manic, futuristic, topsy-turvy world in which Stoppard's dazzling new play is set. And if I add that the influences apparently include Wittgenstein, Magritte, the Goons, Robert Dhery, Joe Orton, and The Avengers, you will have some idea of the heady brew Stoppard has here concocted!" -Michael Billington, The Guardian

"Jumpers is simply dazzling. It takes your breath away with its sheer exuberance of literacy, its cascade of words and conspicuous display of intellect. It is also extraordinarily funny. Jumpers is one of the wittiest and most stimulating plays of the last decade or so." -Clive Barnes, The New York Times

"It's Stoppard in Wonderland-a Wonderland in which his quicksilver brain is free to juggle with paradoxes and to conjure with logic in the manner of Lewis Carroll. . . . An intellectual plum pudding." -Peter Lewis, The Daily Mail

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Grove Press; First Edition edition (January 12, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802151000
• ISBN-13: 978-0802151001
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tom Stoppard is the author of such seminal works as Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Travesties, Every Good Boy Deserves a Favor, Arcadia, Jumpers, The Real Thing, and The Invention of Love.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Witty, Intelligent, and Fun, September 2, 2000

By 

David Messmer (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jumpers (Paperback)

As with so many of Stoppard's plays, this one seems to operate on multiple levels of reality. On the one hand we have a network of philosphers looking for the essence of morality, divinity, and community. On the other, a failed actress has comitted murder and is trying to escape the consequences of her actions while committing adultery at the same time. All of this takes place in a reality that is not our own, but isn't far from it. Stoppard treats these subjects as he treats most of the subjects of his plays: with humor, cleverness, and irony. Stoppard creates a philospher who is so wrapped up in preparing a speech on morality that he is completely unaware of the murder and infidelity that are so obviously happening within his own home. A police officer manages to overlook these same problems due to his obsession with the murderer's past career as an actress. Throughout the play these kind of juxtapositions take place as each character seeks to ignore the reality around him/her as he/she seeks desperately to create his/her own reality. Stopard presents all of this with his usual blend of wit and charm, making Jumpers another solid addition to his body of work.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a tongue in cheek look at philosophy today, October 30, 1998

By 

Jason Varsoke - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jumpers (Paperback)

Stoppard brilliantly illuminates the absurdity of philosophy's retreat from the real world into the world of academia. His lampooning of the Logical Positivists is relentless and sometimes subtle. Throughout most of the play George is preparing to defend the existence of Morality and Good, all the while ignoring the dead body rotting in his bedroom. This is a must read for anyone caught up in, or disenchanted by, philosophy's detachment from real world application.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Moral philosophy: pros and cons. Brilliant, April 15, 1998

By 

Richard Briggs ([e-mail]) (Nottingham, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jumpers (Paperback)

I first read this ten years ago when I sided with George Moore and thought it was brilliant. Now I reread it and find myself discovering Richard Rorty in the character of Archie, and not so sure where my sympathies lie. I guess that's what's best about Stoppard: he argues convincingly on both sides. As for the play, it starts out as a whodunnit but by about page 20 you know you're never going to find out and that it doesn't matter. The jokes are great, the philosophy first class, and the coda is even moving. If you like Sophie's World, or any of those joke-intro-philosophy books then this is one better.