Death and the King's Horseman (Modern Classics) - Softcover

Wole Soyinka

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0413695506 ISBN 13: 9780413695505

Publisher: Methuen Drama, 1998

Synopsis

"The action of the play is as inevitable and eloquent as in Antigone: a clash of values and cultures so fundamental that tragedy issues: a tragedy for each individual, each tribe" Daily Telegraph "This play, by the winner of a Nobel Prize for Literature, asks: 'On the authority of what gods' the white aliens rupture the world. It puts exciting political theatre back on the agenda...a masterpiece of 20th century drama" Guardian Elesin Oba, the King's Horseman, has a single destiny. When the King dies, he must commit ritual suicide and lead his King's favourite horse and dog through the passage to the world of the ancestors. A British Colonial Officer, Pilkings, intervenes. This edition features an interview with the author. Commentary and notes by Jane Plastow

About this title

Review:

This play, by the winner of a Nobel Prize for Literature, asks: 'On the authority of what gods' the white aliens rupture the world. It puts exciting political theatre back on the agenda... a masterpiece of 20th century drama Guardian A transfixing work of modern world drama Independent clearly a masterpiece... he achieves the full impact of Greek tragedy Irving Wardle, Independent on Sunday the action of the play is as inevitable and eloquent as in Antigone: a clash of values and cultures so fundamental that tragedy issues: a tragedy for each individual, each tribe Michael Schmidt, Daily Telegraph

Synopsis:

"This play, by the winner of a Nobel Prize for Literature, asks:'On the authority of what gods' the white aliens rupture the world. Itputs exciting political theatre back on the agenda...a masterpieceof 20th century drama" Guardian Elesin Oba, the King's Horseman, has a single destiny. When the Kingdies, he must commit ritual suicide and lead his King's favourite horseand dog through the passage to the world of the ancestors. A BritishColonial Officer, Pilkings, intervenes to prevent the death and arrestsElesin. Widely considered to by Soyinka's greatest work, this play goesto the heart of the disruption of pre-colonial reality and reveals theway in which - when cultures clash, the world is turned upside-down. Thenotes to this edition include an interview with the playwright, adiscussion of themes and characters, a dossier of photographs and noteson the production history, compiled by Alby James.

About this edition

• Publisher: Methuen Drama
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0413695506
• ISBN 13: 9780413695505
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160
• Editor: Jane Plastow