This book is a vital source for anyone with an interest in Brecht's work.
It is subtitled "the development of an aesthetic," but this phrase seems to reduce the socio-political motivation of Brecht's work, when in fact this volume is evidence of a constant tension between Brecht's didactic intentions, his own pleasure in writing and the demands of the audience.
The texts are arranged chronologically. The central piece here is "A short Organum for the Theatre", in which Brecht outlines many of the techniques that have since been appropriated by artists, filmakers, playwrights; but the methodology is here placed concretely in a Marxist context.
The notion that a revolutionary theatre should portray not simply events, but the way they are constructed in the social field, and that producers should perform their own attitudes as a part of the wider society, is still fresh and vital today.
The range of texts is good and thorough, and most facets of Brecht's complex character are represented. This book should have a wider readership than Brecht scholars and students: it offers us perceptual tools for understanding the capitalist ideology. Thoroughly reccomended, with a nice cover and a very useful index.
