Willy Russell is a British dramatist, lyricist, and composer whose works delve into themes of identity, ambition, and societal constraints. Through his compelling characters overcoming obstacles, Russell explores the human potential for change and growth. His plays and musicals are characterized by keen observations of everyday life and sharp wit, ensuring their enduring appeal to audiences worldwide. His writing often embodies his philosophy that anyone is capable of transformation, regardless of their circumstances.
One of a series of literature guides for GCSE students, this book focuses on Willie Russell's "Educating Rita". It aims to develop the skills and techniques required for coursework and exams, and also to encourage an exploratory reading of the text under discussion.
The extraordinary first novel from the prize-winning and internationally acclaimed playwright and creator of "Shirley Valentine" and" Educating Rita," In Raymond Marks, he brings us another unforgettable character. Raymond Marks is a normal boy, from a normal family, in a normal northern town. His dad left home after falling in love with a five-string banjo; his fun-hating grandma believes she should have married Jean-Paul Sartre: " I could never read his books, but y' could tell from his picture, there was nothing frivolous about Jean-Paul Sartre." Felonious Uncle Jason and appalling Aunty Paula are lusting after the satellite dish; frogs are flattened on Failsworth Boulevard; and Sickening Sonia's being sick in the majestic cathedral of words. Raymond Marks is a normal boy, from a normal family, in a normal northern town. Until, on the banks of the Rochdale Canal, the fly-trapping craze begins and, for Raymond and his ' Mam', nothing will ever be normal again.
Part of the "Modern plays" series aimed at the burgeoning readership of young theatregoers, this title and five others are reissued, representing the range and vitality of the list of 170 titles in print .
This is a fast-moving, perceptive and entertaining work, which is funny yet ultimately tragic. It tells the tale of twin brothers, born into a large working-class family and the consequences of one of them being adopted by a neighbouring middle-class family.
Textbook
Willy Russell beschreibt in seinem Stück „Educating Rita“ die Veränderung der Protagonistin, nachdem sie beschlossen hat, einen Bildungsabschluss an der Summer School nachzuholen. Es wird der Versuch unternommen, einen Zusammenhang zwischen Bildung auf der einen und sozialer Stellung auf der anderen Seite aufzuzeigen. Die Ausgabe mit themenergänzenden Zusatztexten setzt besondere Schwerpunkte. Neben einem neueren Interview mit Willy Russell und aktuellen Informationen zur Bedeutung der Open University, wird auch ein stärkerer Bezug zu Pygmalion von G. B. Shaw hergestellt. (Video-Cassette erhältlich bei Lingua Video)
The Heinemann Plays series offers contemporary drama and classic plays in durable classroom editions. Many have large casts and an equal mix of boy and girl parts. The television play Our Day Out asks what can a group of back-street kids from Liverpool expect from life beyond a rare day out?
Published under a pseudonym, A E Ellis, and appearing in 1958 to considerable acclaim, The Rack is a novel about the ordeal of being deathly ill. A young English student, Paul, is sent to a Swiss sanatorium just after the end of the second world war. At a time when effective medication for tuberculosis was unknown, Paul undergoes an unimaginable regime of regimented medical intervention, both physical and mental. His fellow patients fare no better. Yet, as the poet Edwin Muir wrote in his original review in the Observer: 'The Rack does not deal obviously with disease and suffering; it describes, sometimes very amusingly, the life of the sanatorium: the sardonic professional kindness of the doctors, liable suddenly to break under pressure, the badness of the food, the endless pre-occupation of the patients with their symptoms, and the sexual promiscuity...Behind the book one has the impression of an unusual and powerful mind.' Graham Greene considered it a masterpiece; the Times Literary Supplement believed 'the book exercises a complete fascination...a deeply impressive performance', and Time and Tide hailed The Rack as '...terrific. To read it is itself an experience.'Penelope Mortimer wrote: 'It is often glibly said that a work of art is an experience - The Rack is one of the rare instances of this actually being so. It is a book which must, inevitably, have a permanent effect on the reader. In this case the usual terms of praise become almost meaningless. So powerful is Mr Ellis's inspiration, so driven by the urgent necessity of expression, that one is not so much conscious of having read a account of an ordeal as of having lived through two years of unbearable physical and mental agony - and survived.' Long out of print, the original Heinemann and Penguin editions cut out some 60,000 words of the author's original text. Elliott & Thompson's Gold Edition will restore the complete text to provide today's reader with a chance to discover the definitive edition of one of the great English novels of the last century.
This reprint offers readers a chance to explore a classic work originally published in 1857, preserving the historical context and literary significance of the era. The text reflects the themes and societal issues of its time, providing valuable insights into the cultural landscape of the 19th century. Readers can expect an authentic experience of the language and style used by the author, making it a noteworthy addition for those interested in historical literature.
The book explores the emergence of English literary criticism at the turn of the seventeenth century, highlighting the contributions of figures like Philip Sidney, George Puttenham, and Ben Jonson. It examines their complex relationship with the role of the critic, revealing their fears of misunderstanding and marginalization. Rather than merely adopting existing frameworks from Europe, these critics actively shaped their own practices in response to various social and intellectual influences, marking a significant moment in the evolution of critical discourse.