'Love Me Or Kill Me': Sarah Kane and the Theatre of Extremes [Paperback]

Graham Saunders (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 5, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0719059569 | ISBN-13: 978-0719059568

Love Me or Kill Me is the first study of Sarah Kane, the most significant British dramatist in post-war theater. It covers all of Kane's major plays and productions, contains hitherto unpublished material and reviews, and looks at her continuing influence after her tragic early death. Locating the main dramatic sources and features of her work as well as centralizing her place within the 'new wave' of emergent British dramatists in the 1990's, Graham Saunders provides an introduction for those familiar and unfamiliar with her work.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This is a pioneering book that will have a marked influence of all subsequent Sarah Kane studies. Graham Saunders has spoken to directors, actors and others who worked with her and knew her intimately. You can hear the rustle of draft scripts, feet in rehearsal rooms, the coffee cups of students discussing late into the night. It is astonishing to read such intimate accounts of a woman who became a public icon in her short life... This is not a sycophantic book, its judgements are balanced - and that makes us realise all the more what we have lost. It was one little death, but theatre will need a crowd of brilliant writers to take her place - if even then.' Edward Bond

About the Author

Graham Saunders is Lecturer in Theater Studies at the University of the West of England.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Manchester University Press (July 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0719059569
• ISBN-13: 978-0719059568
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #773,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good intro to the works of Sarah Kane, July 24, 2002

By 

R. King (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 'Love Me Or Kill Me': Sarah Kane and the Theatre of Extremes (Paperback)

I have no doubt in my mind, that Sarah Kane's influence will be compared to that of Beckett's, in about twenty or thirty years. Unfortunately, those of us in the United States have had little opportunity to see her works staged, as of yet. Nevertheless, Saunder's book provides a somewhat thorough overview of her works.
The book is divided into two parts. After a brief introduction, there is a discussion of each of her plays, and Saunders traces Kane's journey and development. Common themes are discussed, her movement toward stripping down language to the barest essentials, her reliance on image over the word, her destroying of the boundaries and limitations of theatrical structure, common characteristics of her characters, etc. Most of the time is spent on Blasted!, which I can understand, but I found the insight to be less in-depth on some of my favorite plays, including about a ten page discussion each for both Cleansed and Crave. It leaves one feeling that merely the surface has been scratched. However, new information was introduced, which did add to my enjoyment and understanding of the plays. The second half of the book includes a number of interviews with actors, directors, agents, and such, that had the opportunity to work directly with Kane. This section adds a different perspective from the first, and adds a much more personal approach that books of this sort are usually lacking.
Hopefully, this book will help direct some attention to Kane's work. It seems that we are the only country not invested in her works, and maybe this book will help de-mystify her for American audiences. Maybe this will help get her fellow playwrights some attention as well, such as Mark Ravenhill, Anthony Neilson, and David Greig. This book marks a positive step toward understanding the work of someone who innovated and challenged so much, that we will only fully comprehend her impact in the distant future. Its worth the read, and applause for Saunders for taking this crucial step.

5.0 out of 5 stars a MUST for Kane fans and theater professionals, February 14, 2010

By 

Davit Gabunia (Tbilisi, Georgia) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 'Love Me Or Kill Me': Sarah Kane and the Theatre of Extremes (Paperback)

This book turned out to be much more interesting than I thought while buying it online. Graham Saunders gives a detailed description how Kane's shocking works were received by critics and audience. What is most important, Mr Saunders gives us a chance to read about Sarah's own reactions on devastating critical storm against her. You will find a lot of deep and revealing ideas in the book that will greatly help you to understand and appreciate Kane's importance and her revolutionary plays. I'd recommend this book as a MUST reading for all who are interested in Sarah Kane's work.