Like the 'Lysistrata,' the 'Thesmophoriazusae, or Women's Festival,' and the next following play, the 'Ecclesiazusae, or Women in Council' are comedies in which the fair sex play a great part. In ‘The Thesmophoriazusae’ Euripides is summoned as a notorious woman-hater and detractor of the female sex to appear for trial and judgment before the women of Athens assembled to celebrate the Thesmophoria, a festival h ...
"In His Steps" is a classic of Christian literature whose premise centers on the idea of emulating Christ in one's everyday life. When faced with the challenges of everyday life the book suggests that one should ask oneself, «What would Jesus do?» This simple maxim creates a profound way of looking at life and both the common and morally challenging dilemmas that one might face in life. By asking how would Jesus respond in a particular ...
Benjamin Jonson's career began in 1597 when he held a fixed engagement in «The Admiral's Men», and although he was unsuccessful as an actor, his literary talent was apparent and he began writing original plays for the troupe. Jonson had a literary knack for absurdity and hypocrisy, a trait that made him immensely popular in the 17th century Renaissance period. His works are particularly recognizable because of his consistencies in styl ...
Written in 1888, «The Lady from the Sea» is Henrik Ibsen's drama about a married couple, Ellida and Doctor Wangel. Doctor Wangel, a widower with two daughters, begins to notice Ellida, a much younger woman, becoming increasingly anxious and strange in her demeanor. Fearing a problem with her mental health he asks his former headmaster, Arnholm, to come for a visit in hopes that he may be able to help. It is soon discovered that Ellida was o ...
Benjamin Jonson (1572-1637) was a Renaissance dramatist, poet and actor, known best for his satirical plays and lyric poems. He worked shortly as an actor in «The Admiral's Men», but soon moved on to writing original plays for the troupe. Jonson's works are particularly recognizable because of his consistencies in style, intricacy of plot, characterization and setting. He focused on creating works that implemented elements of the reali ...
George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) is revered as one of the great British dramatists, credited not only with memorable works, but the revival of the then-suffering English theatre. Shaw was born in Dublin, Ireland, left mostly to his own devices after his mother ran off to London to pursue a musical career. He educated himself for the most part, and eventually worked for a real estate agent. This experience founded in him a concern for social injus ...
William Butler Yeats was born near Dublin in 1865, and was encouraged from a young age to pursue a life in the arts. He attended art school for a short while, but soon found that his talents and interest lay in poetry rather than painting. He became an instrumental figure in the «Irish Literary Revival» of the 20th Century that redefined Irish writing. Early in life, Yeats developed a love for the green hills and lakes of Sligo, where he spent m ...
For its brilliant use of subtext «The Sea-Gull» is considered to be one of Anton Chekhov's most significant dramatic works. It is the story of the romantic and artistic conflicts between four main characters: Nina, the daughter of a wealthy landowner; Madame Irina Arkadina, a once leading actress; Konstantin Treplyov, her son and a playwright; and Trigorin, a well-known writer. Additionally in this edition you will find the much shorter one ...
"The League of Youth" is Henrik Ibsen's comedic play which is the story of Stensgaard, a charismatic would-be politician, who forms the 'League of Youth' party and attempts to get elected. The character of Stensgaard is supposedly based on writer Bjornstjerne Bjornson, a contemporary of Ibsen and political opposition leader. Praised for its witty dialogue and cynical humor, «The League of Youth» was one of Ibsen's most p ...
