A bilingual edition of Brecht's classic play, allowing students to see the original German text next to a pre-eminent, modern English translation.
Brecht's parable of good and evil was first performed in 1943 and remains one of his most popular and frequently produced plays worldwide. Three gods come to earth hoping to discover one really good person. No one can be found until they meet Shen Te, a prostitute with a heart of gold. Rewarded by the gods, she gives up her profession and buys a tobacco shop but finds it is impossible to survive as a good person in a corrupt world without the support of her ruthless alter ego Shui Ta.
This unique bilingual edition allows students to compare the original German text with a translation by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner. His translation is original and accessible, using contemporary, lively language. This edition also includes a critical introduction and commentary notes on particular words and phrases.
Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) is acknowledged as one of the great dramatists whose work has had a considerable influence on the theatre. His landmark plays include The Threepenny Opera, The Life of Galileo, and The Caucasian Chalk Circle. Translator, Tony Kushner, is best known for his two-part epic, Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes and he has since emerged as one of America's most gifted playwrights. He is the recipient of a Pulitzer Prize for Drama, an Emmy Award, two Tony Awards, three Obie Awards, and an Oscar nomination among many others.