Synopses & Reviews
John Arden: "Of all his generation, he has come nearest to greatness while staying furthest from popular recognition."—Daily Telegraph
The Workhouse Donkey: "Arden's masterpiece. It hit me amidships and left me feeling it was after all possible to unite passion, politics, poetry, sex, and song in a living theatrical form."—Guardian
Armstrong's Last Goodnight: "This magnificent play ... is now more timely than ever. Subtitled "An Exercise in Diplomacy," it will survive for as long as there are people who try to disarm violence with verbal argument. Arden is saying complicated things through a story as direct as a folk-song."—Independent on Sunday
Left-Handed Liberty: "It is clotted with ideas ... full of stage pictures stamped out like shots in a film."—Observer
The True History of Squire Jonathan and his Unfortunate Treasure: "A moral fable ... a literary near-poetic play."—Time Out
The Bagman: "A complete triumph—it was that mystical thing, pure radio ... it was a shining piece of ingenuity as well."—New Statesman
Synopsis
Long awaited collection from one of Britain's greatest living playwrights. Arden's plays combine themes of politics, passion, violence and community, expressed in his uniquely poetical style of dialogue. Contains: The Workhouse Donkey; Armstrong's Last Goodnight; Left-Handed Liberty; The True History of Squire Jonathan and his Unfortunate Treasure; The Bagman and features preface and introduction by the author.
Synopsis
"Arden is to me a writer a bit like Shakespeare in approach, in that the writing not only has to convey...the dialogue of characters speaking together, but also has to carry the sense of the social environment and the texture of people's lives."
This second volume of John Arden's plays includes works from the 1960s. Armstrong's Last Goodnight, although set in 16th century Scotland, sheds new light on the experience of conscript soldiers at the tail end of colonialism in the 1960s; The Workhouse Donkey presents "not just a kaleidoscopic portrait of a living community; it also has the moral uncertainty of life itself" (Michael Billington The Guardian). Left-handed Liberty anatomises the disintegration of the feudal system under King John; while The True History of Squire Jonathan and his Unfortunate Treasure and the radio play The Bagman are based on real incidents, personal and political in Arden's own life.
"Arden is a giant of modern playwriting. He writes on an epic scale that few have attained since, the plays tumble into action, and with vivid human response." (Dominic Dromgoole)
Synopsis
This second volume of John Arden's plays includes works from the 1960s. Armstrong's Last Goodnight, although set in 16th century Scotland, sheds new light on the experience of conscript soldiers at the tail end of colonialism in the 1960s; The Workhouse Donkey presents "not just a kaleidoscopic portrait of a living community; it also has the moral uncertainty of life itself" (Michael Billington The Guardian). Left-handed Liberty anatomises the disintegration of the feudal system under King John; while The True History of Squire Jonathan and his Unfortunate Treasure and the radio play The Bagman are based on real incidents, personal and political in Arden's own life.
"Arden is a giant of modern playwriting. He writes on an epic scale that few have attained since, the plays tumble into action, and with vivid human response." (Dominic Dromgoole)
Synopsis
This second volume of John Arden's plays includes works from the 1960s. Armstrong's Last Goodnight, although set in 16th century Scotland, sheds new light on the experience of conscript soldiers at the tail end of colonialism in the 1960s; The Workhouse Donkey presents not just a kaleidoscopic portrait of a living community; it also has the moral uncertainty of life itself (Michael Billington The Guardian). Left-handed Liberty anatomises the disintegration of the feudal system under King John; while The True History of Squire Jonathan and his Unfortunate Treasure and the radio play The Bagman are based on real incidents, personal and political in Arden's own life.
Arden is a giant of modern playwriting. He writes on an epic scale that few have attained since, the plays tumble into action, and with vivid human response. (Dominic Dromgoole)
About the Author
John Arden has made his name as a playwright, and already has a volume published by Methuen Drama, but his first novel, Silence Among the Weapons; was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and his third novel, Cogs Tyrannic; won the PEN;Silver Pen Award;. He also won the V.S.Prichett Award in 1999 for his short story, Breach of Trust;.