Grand-Guignol: The French Theatre of Horror (UEP - Exeter Performance Studies) (Paperback)

~ Richard J. Hand (Author), Michael Wilson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The Théâtre du Grand-Guignol in Paris (1897–1962) achieved a legendary reputation as the "Theatre of Horror", a venue displaying such explicit violence and blood-curdling terror that a resident doctor was employed to treat the numerous spectators who fainted each night. Indeed, the phrase grand guignol has entered the language to describe any display of sensational horror.

Since the theatre closed its doors forty years ago, the genre has been overlooked by critics and theatre historians. This book reconsiders the importance and influence of the Grand-Guignol within its social, cultural and historical contexts, and is the first attempt at a major evaluation of the genre as performance. It gives full consideration to practical applications and to the challenges presented to the actor and director.

The book also includes oustanding new translations by the authors of ten Grand-Guignol plays, none of which have been previously available in English. The presentation of these plays in English for the first time is an implicit demand for a total reappraisal of the grand-guignol genre, not least for the unexpected inclusion of two very funny comedies.

About the Author

Richard Hand and Michael Wilson are Principal Lecturers in Drama at the University of Glamorgan. Richard Hand is assistant editor and translator of 'Naturalism and Symbolism in European Theatre, 1850-1918' (CUP, 1996). Michael Wilson is author of 'Performance and Practice: Oral Narrative Traditions among Teenagers in Britain and Ireland' (Ashgate, 1997).

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: University of Exeter Press (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 085989696X
• ISBN-13: 978-0859896962
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #486,986 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not strong enough., October 2, 2006

By	William T. Heard "Theatrical Producer" (Las Vegas, NV) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In researching the genre, I was pointed to this book in several references. Although the wealth of full scripts is a plus, the scholarly portion relies too frequently on other sources (end notes galore) to be of any first-hand value. The authors cite Gordon's "Grand Guignol" with frequency...however, not frequent enough for me to shell out the ninety bucks it's going for these days!

2 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars blood, guts and gore on stage, December 2, 2004

By	T. Morrow - See all my reviews

This book proves that Hollywood writers and directors weren't the ones who invented Horror, it was the Grand Guignol theatre and its playwrights.