Lawrence Graver Boeken

Recounts the efforts of writer Meyer Levin to bring Frank's diary to the American public after the war and his search for the meaning of his Jewish identity

Focusing on Beckett's iconic play, the volume provides an in-depth critical analysis of its themes, characters, and structure. It explores the philosophical underpinnings and the existential questions posed throughout the narrative, offering insights into the play's significance in modern literature. The study examines the interplay of humor and despair, highlighting the innovative techniques Beckett employs to challenge traditional storytelling. Overall, it serves as a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of this seminal work.

From an inauspicious beginning at the tiny Left Bank Theatre de Babylone in 1953, followed by bewilderment among American and British audiences, "Waiting for Godot" has become one of the most important and enigmatic plays of the past fifty years and a cornerstone of twentieth-century drama. As Clive Barnes wrote, "Time catches up with genius. . . . "Waiting for Godot" is one of the masterpieces of the century." The story revolves around two seemingly homeless men waiting for someone--or something--named Godot. Vladimir and Estragon wait near a tree, inhabiting a drama spun of their own consciousness. The result is a comical wordplay of poetry, dreamscapes, and nonsense, which has been interpreted as mankind's inexhaustible search for meaning. Beckett's language pioneered an expressionistic minimalism that captured the existential post- World War II Europe. His play remains one of the most magical and beautiful allegories of our time.