The International Reception of Samuel Beckett

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Over the last decade, Samuel Beckett's popularity has rocketed around the world and he is increasingly recognised as one of the most important and influential writers of the twentieth century but there has been very little scholarly work on Beckett's reception outside Europe. This comprehensive volume brings together essays from leading critics on Beckett's international critical reception. Due to Beckett's linguistic and artistic abilities, he was intimately involved in the translation and production of his writings in German, French, English and Spanish; and consequently countries using these languages have sophisticated critical traditions. However, many other countries have adopted Beckett as their own, from places where he lived for lengthy periods of his life (England, France, Ireland and Germany), to those finding directly applicable political messages in his work (such as ex-Soviet states including the Czech Republic and Romania), and those countries whose national literary traditions bear heavily upon his work (e.g. Norway and Italy). This fascinating volume reveals Beckett's evolving critical reception from contemporary reviews to the present.

Reviews

"That Beckett has been a major player on the international stage has long been recognized by audiences and critics alike. What this volume makes clear is just how wide-ranging and enduring his presence as a global writer continues to be. This collection of essays will be of major importance to anyone concerned with how the multi-faceted Beckett has been translated, read, received and performed in so many places all over the world." - Professor Enoch Brater is the author of Beyond Minimalism, The Drama in the Text and The Essential Samuel Beckett.
"This landmark study attests to Samuel Beckett's truly global impact. It is a major contribution to the intricate reception of one of the leading writers of the twentieth century. Executed with scholarly authority and theoretical awareness, this is the definitive account of Beckett's reception around the world." - Dr Ronan McDonald, University of Reading, UK
[A] highly readable edited collection... Despite the disparate histories of reception that make up the volume there are many points of cohesion, such as the impact that En Attendant Godot made throughout Europe in several fascinating accounts. -- The Year's Work in English Studies, Volume 90

Author Bio

Mark Nixon is Lecturer in English at the University of Reading, UK, where he is also the Director of the Beckett International Foundation.
Matthew Feldman is Lecturer in Twentieth-Century History at the Universityof Northampton, UK.