The Swallows: 16 (Playscripts S.) - Softcover

Dubillard, Roland

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0714506486 ISBN 13: 9780714506487

Publisher: Calder Publications Ltd, 1969

Synopsis

`The Swallows' tells the story of a young country girl,
Germaine, who comes to Madame Severin's shop in answer to an advertisement
for an assistant. She mistakenly comes to the next door shop which is run
by Bertrand, Madame Severin's nephew and his friend Fernand, and where the
stock may vary from broken China to motorcycles according to the mood of
the vague and disorganized young men. More than this, however, `The
Swallows' is an exposition of the absurdities of out daily life, of the
need for love and affection, of the tragedy of growing old and of the
continual desire for the new and untried.

The play itself has had a chequered career. Acclaimed by the Parisian
playwrights, Ionesco and Anouilh among them, it had previously received
indifferent reviews from the critics. The play subsequently had a long run
in Paris, in the production of Arlette Reinerg, who also played the part of
Germaine.

About this title

About the Author

Roland Dubillard was born in France and lives in Paris. He was
first known as an actor and cabaret artist until `The Swallows' and his
second play, `The House of Bones', were produced in Paris and highly
praised by leading Parisian dramatists. He has also written a volume of
poetry. He belongs to no school, either as founder or follower, but, like
Rimbaud with whom he has much in common both in character and his work, he
occupies a unique position in modern European literature.

Barbara Wright has a deservedly high reputation as the translator of the
novels of Queneau and the plays of Arrabal among other important works of
modern French writing.

Edition details

• Publisher: Calder Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 1969
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0714506486
• ISBN 13: 9780714506487
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 120