- Paperback: 190 pages
- Publisher: Harvest Books (Jun 1964)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0156182890
- ISBN-13: 978-0156182898
- Product Dimensions: 20.2 x 13.6 x 1.2 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,659,466 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
'Obviously something more than a successful play, it is the practical demonstration of a patently conceived theory of dramatic form, and as such of high historical interest.' Times Literary Supplement
'Eliot has attempted here something very daring and well worth doing. He has taken the ordinary West End drawing room comedy convention - understatement, upper-class accents and all - and used it as a vehicle for utterly serious ideas.' Observer
--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.About the Author
Thomas Stearns Eliot was born in St Louis, Missouri, in 1888. He came to England in 1914 and published his first book of poems in 1917. He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948. Eliot died in 1965.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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9 reviews
18 of 20 people found the following review helpful
A fantastic drama. Tickles the brain as well as your fancy.
8 Sep 1999
Format:Paperback
This wonderful play is ultimately entertaining while remaining completely unafraid to challengethe audience. Eliot explores the inner motives and masks that people wear while keeping you smiling the whole while. Be careful though; while you may be delighted the whole while, Eliot is busy weaving a tale that truly gets right down into everyones personal hells. Truly a drama that only he could deliver. Highly recommended.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Survival kit in a schizophrenic society
16 Dec 2001
Format:Paperback
In a world of appearances, a new species of peace-makers has been invented. The priest of old has disappeared. The psychiatrist has replaced him. He is there to listen to secrets, to sort out situations and to propose solutions to human problems. The very few that are worth it can become the saints of today, going to foreign desolate countries and helping people out of their difficulties, fighting poverty and diseases, bringing the christian faith to pagan people, living in suffering and dire hardship. The others are helped to adapt to our society, to be successful in this society without feeling the remorse or the fear that come along with it. They just become adaptable, supple enough to fit in a deeply dishumanized society. The psychiatrist is the go-between for such people.
This play is surrealistic and yet perfectly descriptive of reality. It is full of a new type of poetry, his poetry of love and hate, of a new type of drama, his drama of conflict-solving. T. S. Eliot manages to shift from the most superficial bourgeois drama to the deepest and serenest tragedy turned comedy. The path of these people is tragic in a way, but it ends in beauty or at least in harmony.
Yet I think T.S. Eliot would have been better inspired if he had gotten away from this bourgeois aristocratic society that is nothing but vain cocktail parties and superfluous appearances. The great poet he is could have been a better playwright.
Dr Jacques COULARDEAU
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Wonderful!
25 Feb 2000
Format:Paperback
I am personally not a fan of Eliot, due to the fact that I, most unfortunately, started off with "The Wasteland", which is, as I am sure anyone reading this review will know, is not exactly an easy read, especially at age 12. However, "The Cocktail Party" seems to grasp me still, days after I have finished reading it. It is such a witty, humorous comedy that mocks the modern ages, and pretty much everyone who seems to be a part of this insane, chaotic world (at least as I understood it). I recommend this for anyone looking a good book to do a book report on, or someone looking for the meaning of life and/or in need of serious 'ponder' over the universe in a philosophical, poetic, aesthetic way.
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