Thornton Wilder était un dramaturge et romancier américain dont les œuvres explorent souvent des thèmes universels de l'existence humaine et des valeurs sociétales. Il mêlait magistralement l'humour à une profonde réflexion, obtenant une reconnaissance pour sa capacité unique à capturer l'essence de la vie humaine. Les pièces et les romans de Wilder explorent les complexités des relations, le passage du temps et la recherche de sens dans les expériences quotidiennes. Son influence sur le drame et la littérature modernes est indéniable, car ses œuvres continuent de résonner auprès des lecteurs du monde entier.
These provacative and illuminating essays by a major figure in American letters range widely in tone and theme, but they are all distinguished by Wilder's penetrating and experienced intelligence and his marvelous intellectual audacity.
Letters written between 1950 and 1975 by Thornton Wilder and Adaline Glasheen discussing their reading of Finnegan's Wake. schovat popis
The enduring power of Thornton Wilder's work lies in its ability to connect audiences to their shared humanity through the theater. His plays resonate with timeless themes that encourage reflection and understanding among people. The description highlights the importance of live performance in preserving Wilder's legacy and the universal truths found in his storytelling.
"Collected Plays and Writings on Theater" is the definitive edition of Thornton Wilder's theatrical works, showcasing his journey from early one-act plays to masterpieces like "Our Town." It features unpublished material, including scenes from his unfinished play "The Emporium" and his original screenplay for Hitchcock's "Shadow of a Doubt," highlighting his dramatic storytelling prowess.
Wilder's early novels showcase his wit and philosophical depth, blending innovative forms with rich narratives. In The Cabala, he captures youthful enchantment in Rome through the lens of an American student's fictional memoir, mingling with a mysterious group of nobles. His acclaimed work, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, explores profound themes of love and destiny through a friar's investigation into five lives lost in a bridge collapse in 18th-century Peru. This elegantly crafted tale delves into the nature of divine intention and the justification of human suffering.
"Meet George Marvin Brush--Don Quixote come to Main Street in the Great Depression, and one of Thornton Wilder's most memorable characters. George Brush, a traveling textbook salesman, is a fervent religious convert who is determined to lead a good life. With sad and sometimes hilarious consequences, his travels take him through smoking cars, bawdy houses, banks, and campgrounds from Texas to Illinois--and into the soul of America itself."--Amazon.com description
Drawing on such unique sources as Thornton Wilder's unpublished letters, journals, and selections from the extensive annotations Wilder made years later in the margins of the book, Tappan Wilder's Afterword adds a special dimension to the reissue of this internationally acclaimed novel. The Ides of March, first published in 1948, is a brilliant epistolary novel set in Julius Caesar's Rome. Thornton Wilder called it "a fantasia on certain events and persons of the last days of the Roman republic." Through vividly imagined letters and documents, Wilder brings to life a dramatic period of world history and one of history's most magnetic, elusive personalities. In this inventive narrative, the Caesar of history becomes Caesar the human being. Wilder also resurrects the controversial figures surrounding Caesar -- Cleopatra, Catullus, Cicero, and others. All Rome comes crowding through these pages -- the Rome of villas and slums, beautiful women and brawling youths, spies and assassins.
Set across two continents and multiple generations, the narrative begins with a gripping murder mystery that evolves into a profound exploration of human experiences. It delves into themes of courage, aspirations, and the complexities of human nature, highlighting both triumphs and failures. The novel intertwines drama with philosophical insights, offering a rich tapestry of life’s challenges and victories.
Marking the thirtieth anniversary of Theophilus North, this beautiful new edition features Wilder's unpublished notes for the novel and other illuminating documentary material, all of which is included in a new Afterword by Tappan Wilder. The last of Wilder's works published during his lifetime, this novel is part autobiographical and part the imagined adventure of his twin brother who died at birth. Setting out to see the world in the summer of 1926, Theophilus North gets as far as Newport, Rhode Island, before his car breaks down. To support himself, Theophilus takes jobs in the elegant mansions along Ocean Drive, just as Wilder himself did in the same decade. Soon the young man finds himself playing the roles of tutor, spy, confidant, lover, friend, and enemy as he becomes entangled in the intrigues of both upstairs and downstairs in a glittering society dominated by leisure. Narrated by the elderly North from a distance of fifty years, Theophilus North is a fascinating commentary on youth and education from the vantage point of age, and deftly displays Wilder's trademark wit juxtaposed with his lively and timeless ruminations on what really matters about life, love, and work at the end of the day -- even after a visit to Newport.
Set in the vibrant world of ancient Rome during Julius Caesar's time, this classic novel by Thornton Wilder explores the complexities of power, ambition, and the human experience. The narrative vividly captures the political intrigue and cultural richness of the era, offering a timeless reflection on the nature of leadership and society. The new introduction by Jeremy McCarter adds contemporary insight, connecting the historical themes to modern audiences.
