Death And The Ploughman

(Paperback)

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A hugely acclaimed new play based on a 15th century Bohemian story

Written in the 15th century by the Bohemian humanist and writer Johannes Von Saaz, Death and the Ploughman is a tragic dialogue between Death and a recently widowed farmer. It is here dramatised by the acclaimed translator Michael West as an adversarial duel where the farmer's defence of mankind is as strong as Death's ruthless prosecution of his own cause.

"Quite extraordinary...This translation is an eloquent one, filled with jewelled words and edged debate, a tribute to the original author and a serious achievement by his successor" - Irish Times

"Immensely personal, manifestly sceptical of received religious wisdom, and utterly fascinating, a Drer engraving given audible life" - Sunday Independent

Death and the Ploughman is published to tie in with its production at the Gate Theatre, London in October 2002

Praise for Michael West's FOLEY: "a gem" (Sunday Independent); "Splendidly crafted" (Washington Post); "Simply superb" (Irish Times)

Reviews

"Quite extraordinary...This translation is an eloquent one, filled with jewelled words and edged debate, a tribute to the original author and a serious achievement by his successor" --Irish Times

"Immensely personal, manifestly sceptical of received religious wisdom, and utterly fascinating, a Drer engraving given audible life" --Sunday Independent

Author Bio

Johannes Von Saaz was probably born in the village of Schttwa (Sitbor), in the district of Bischofsteinitz, in northern Sudentland. His date of birth is unknown, but evidence suggests between 1342 and 1350. Around this time there was an outbreak of the bubonic plague - The Black Death - which ravaged Europe, killing a third of the population. In the documents that have come down to us, the name of the poet varies: it appears as Johannes von Tepl, Johannes Hanslini von Sitbor, Johannes von Sitbor or Johannes von Saaz. Between 1358 and 1368 he was educated at the monastery in Tepl, after which he studied at the University of Prague, and finally in a university in either France or Italy (Paris, Bologna or Padua) where he acquired the title Magister Artium. Having finished his studies, he worked for a period in the Imperial Court at Prague. In 1378 Johnannes von Tepl was appointed municipal notary (notarius civitatis) to the town of Saaz and in 1368 he became headmaster of the school there; he held both positions until 1411, when he left Saaz for Prague. There he became a clerk until his death in 1414. Few of his other writings survive: some verse in Latin and three volumes of administrative and juridical papers which he drew up in his capacity as notary and legal counsel in Saaz and Prague. On 1 August 1400 his wife Margherita died in childbirth. This painful episode inspired the creation of his masterpiece Death and the Ploughman. Michael West has written several plays in collaboration with Annie Ryan and The Corn Exchange including Man Of Valour, Freefall (Best New Play at the Irish Theatre Awards and at the Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild) and the world premiere adaptation of James Joyces Dubliners presented in association with the Dublin Theatre Festival 2012. Other work for The Corn Exchange includes EVERYDAY, Dublin By Lamplight, Foley, an adaptation of Lolita (in a co-production with the Abbey) and The Seagull which will premiere at the Dublin Theatre Festival in 2016. He has translated or adapted many texts, among them The Marriage of Figaro for the Abbey; a version of Death and the Ploughman by the Bohemian 14th century writer Johannes Von Saaz for Christian Schiaretti of the TNP in Lyon and produced by SITI company and directed by Anne Bogart in the USA; and plays by Molire, Marivaux, Caldern and the contemporary French poet, Jean-Pierre Simon. His latest translation, Forever Yours, Mary-Lou by Michel Tremblay premiered at the Theatre Royal in Bath in March 2016. He has written two plays for younger audiences, Jack Fell Down and Forest Man, and in 2014 the Abbey Theatre presented a world premiere of his most recent play Conservatory. For the last year he has been writer-in-residence at University College Cork.