Yerma (Hispanic Texts) (Paperback)

by Federico Garcia Lorca (Author), Robin Warner (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Elogiada en su dia por la mejor critica, desde Unamuno a E. Diez-Canedo, Yerma (1934) es, tal como la definiera el propio Federico Garcia Lorca (1898-1936), ""la imagen de la fecundidad castigada a la esterilidad"" dentro de ese dramatico juego universal en el que se mueven las criaturas lorquianas: la oposicion entre las fuerzas de la vida, con su destino de libertad, y la opresion que sobre esas fuerzas se vuelca incluso hasta llegar a la muerte. A cargo de Mario Hernandez, la presente edicion de esta obra dramatica fija su texto de forma escrupulosa y se enriquece con una serie de entrevistas con el poeta rescatadas de la prensa espanola de los anos 1934 y 1935. --Los editores --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description

The second of Lorca's great trilogy of rural dramas, Yerma is a concentrated blend of contrasting moods through which Lorca charts the increasingly destructive obsession of a childless young country wife, and probes the darker zones of human fears and desires. The play's rich mode of expression- a powerful combination of verbal, visual and auditory images and rhythms- is also geared to celebrating sexual attraction and fertility, creation and procreation.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Manchester University Press (December 15, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0719041317
• ISBN-13: 978-0719041310
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,319,115 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #48 in

  Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( G ) > Garcia Lorca, Federico

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A woman's pain, May 28, 2004

By	Michael J. Mazza (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This review is from: Yerma (Absolute Classics) (Paperback)

"Yerma," the play by Federico Garcia Lorca, has been adapted by Pam Gems in the version I read. Gems also wrote the introduction to the book, in which she praises Lorca as one of Spain's greatest artists of all time. A note before the beginning of the play notes that this adaptation was first presented in Manchester in 2003.

The title character of Yerma is a rural wife who is frustrated because she has not yet given birth to a child. The play follows her conflict with her husband and interactions with other characters. "Yerma" certainly raises some important issues: marriage, gender roles, motherhood, trust, and honor. And there is some wonderfully poetic language. But overall I found this play dull and uninteresting; moreover, the characters never really engaged me. For better examples of Gems' talent, I suggest the fine plays "Marlene" and "The Snow Palace."

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Yerma, November 30, 2004

By	Ellison Canary "Ellison" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Yerma (Spanish Edition) (Paperback)

When reading Lorca's plays you have to remember that they are in fact Plays and are not meant to be read but to be preformed. They weren't created to specifically entertain but were supposed to be a photographic representation of life in rural spain during the 1930's. Yerma is a story about a woman pressured by societal expectations to have children. When she finds out that she can not conceive (Yerma in spanish literally means desert, she is barren) it drives her into depression. Its a story about the unrealistic pressures and expectations of society on women during her time. The beauty in Lorca's work is in his use of symbolism and repetition. Its not a play to read for pleasure but rather education.

3 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Asi Asi, February 10, 2000

By	Chris Williams (Vinson Massif, Antarctica) - See all my reviews

Esa obra no es el mejor de Lorca. La Casa de Bernarda Alba es el mejor.