Samuel Beckett and the Second World War - (Historicizing Modernism) by William Davies (Paperback)
About this item
Highlights
- In the wake of the Second World War, Samuel Beckett wrote some of the most significant literary works of the 20th century.
- About the Author: William Davies is a research fellow at the University of Reading.
- 256 Pages
- Literary Criticism, Modern
- Series Name: Historicizing Modernism
Description
Book Synopsis
In the wake of the Second World War, Samuel Beckett wrote some of the most significant literary works of the 20th century. This is the first full-length historical study to examine the far-reaching impact of the war on Beckett's creative and intellectual sensibilities.
Drawing on a substantial body of archival material, including letters, manuscripts, diaries and interviews, as well as a wealth of historical sources, this book explores Beckett's writing in a range of political contexts, from the racist dogma of Nazism and aggressive traditionalism of the Vichy regime to Irish neutrality censorship and the politics of recovery in the French Fourth Republic. Along the way, Samuel Beckett and the Second World War casts new light on Beckett's political commitments and his concepts of history as they were formed during Europe's darkest hour.
Review Quotes
"[Beckett's] life between 1939 and 1945-6 has been well-documented ... but William Davies adds much detail, and his book is certain to become the standard work on the subject. But he has done far more than provide new information: he adds fresh strands to the narrative. His book explores, for instance, the issue of Vichy's Révolution nationale and Beckett's sarcastic depiction of the Pétain paradox as a 'poor old misled man and hero of Verdun' (p. 78). This is followed by a brilliant exposé of Beckett's relationship to Irish neutrality and a fine analysis of his greatest poem 'Saint-Lô' (1946)." --John Fletcher, Journal of European Studies
"This deep and original re-examination of Samuel Beckett's experience in occupied France during World War Two is a revelation, a book that opens so many new vistas onto Beckett's creative breakthrough, and the gestation of Waiting for Godot, Endgame and the post-war prose. A stunning debut." --Robert McCrum, Beckett Centre Creative Fellow, University of Reading, UKAbout the Author
William Davies is a research fellow at the University of Reading. With Helen Bailey, he is the editor of Beckett and Politics (2020). He is an English editor of LONGITUDINES magazine.