Thornton Wilder Books

"Meet George Marvin Brush--Don Quixote come to Main Street in the Great Depression, and one of Thornton Wilder's most memorable characters. George Brush, a traveling textbook salesman, is a fervent religious convert who is determined to lead a good life. With sad and sometimes hilarious consequences, his travels take him through smoking cars, bawdy houses, banks, and campgrounds from Texas to Illinois--and into the soul of America itself."--Amazon.com description

Nestroy's three comedies will acquaint the English-speaking public with the colorful nineteenth-century Viennese dramatist and actor, whom they may know only through Thornton Wilder's adaptation of a Nestroy play as The Matchmaker, which ultimately became the popular musical Hello, Dolly! Nestroy is still widely played in Germany, Switzerland, and especially in Austria. The comedies included here are among his best and have already been performed by drama groups in the United States. The translation successfully overcomes the formidable challenge of Nestroy's wide use of wordplay and the Viennese idiom and offers the reader a sparkling version of the three comedies. In their introduction the translators tell how and why they undertook the task.

Marking the thirtieth anniversary of Theophilus North, this beautiful new edition features Wilder's unpublished notes for the novel and other illuminating documentary material, all of which is included in a new Afterword by Tappan Wilder. The last of Wilder's works published during his lifetime, this novel is part autobiographical and part the imagined adventure of his twin brother who died at birth. Setting out to see the world in the summer of 1926, Theophilus North gets as far as Newport, Rhode Island, before his car breaks down. To support himself, Theophilus takes jobs in the elegant mansions along Ocean Drive, just as Wilder himself did in the same decade. Soon the young man finds himself playing the roles of tutor, spy, confidant, lover, friend, and enemy as he becomes entangled in the intrigues of both upstairs and downstairs in a glittering society dominated by leisure. Narrated by the elderly North from a distance of fifty years, Theophilus North is a fascinating commentary on youth and education from the vantage point of age, and deftly displays Wilder's trademark wit juxtaposed with his lively and timeless ruminations on what really matters about life, love, and work at the end of the day -- even after a visit to Newport.

Set in the vibrant world of ancient Rome during Julius Caesar's time, this classic novel by Thornton Wilder explores the complexities of power, ambition, and the human experience. The narrative vividly captures the political intrigue and cultural richness of the era, offering a timeless reflection on the nature of leadership and society. The new introduction by Jeremy McCarter adds contemporary insight, connecting the historical themes to modern audiences.

A guide to reading "Our Town" with a critical and appreciative mind encourages analysis of plot, style, form, and structure, and includes background on the author's life and times, sample tests, and a reading list

On Friday noon, July the twentieth, 1714, the finest bridge in all Peru broke and precipitated five travelers into the gulf below. With this celebrated sentence Thornton Wilder begins The Bridge of San Luis Rey, one of the towering achievements in American fiction and a novel read throughout the world.By chance, a monk witnesses the tragedy. Brother Juniper then embarks on a quest to prove that it was divine intervention rather than chance that led to the deaths of those who perished in the tragedy. His search leads to his own death -- and to the author's timeless investigation into the nature of love and the meaning of the human condition.

In The Alcestaid Thornton Wilder retells for us the ancient legend of Alcestis, Queen of Thessaly, who gave her life for her husband Admetus, beloved of the Sun Apollo, and was brought back from Hell by Hercules. Wilder's Alcestis is a seeker after understanding, to whom "there is only misery, and that is ignorance." Her life as wife, mother, Queen -- like Emily;s in Our Town -- is apparently idyllic happiness is destroyed by death. But neither death or happiness is what it seems to be, and the tragedy id Apollo's "song in motion...an unfolding -- a part of something larger than we can see." It is followed, according to Greek tradition, by a comic 'satyr' a one-act "diversion" in which Apollo, disguised as a kitchen-boy, confounds The Drunken Sisters -- the Fates -- to save the life of Admetus.

Winner 1938 Pulitzer Prize for Drama In an important publishing event, Samuel French, in cooperation with the Thornton Wilder estate is pleased to release the playwright's definitive version of "Our Town." This edition of the play differs only slightly from previous acting editions, yet it presents "Our Town" as Thornton Wilder wished it to be performed. Described by Edward Albee as ..".the greatest American play ever written," the story follows the small town of Grover's Corners through three acts: "Daily Life," "Love and Marriage," and "Death and Eternity." Narrated by a stage manager and performed with minimal props and sets, audiences follow the Webb and Gibbs families as their children fall in love, marry, and eventually-in one of the most famous scenes in American theatre-die. Thornton Wilder's final word on how he wanted his play performed is an invaluable addition to the American stage and to the libraries of theatre lovers internationally.

A collection of anthologies, resource and reference books, including titles from Oscar Wilde, Mary Shelley, Alex Madina, Jo Phillips and Adrian Barlow.

Set in post-World War I Rome, the narrative follows Samuele, a young American painter who becomes involved with a cast of eccentric characters. Through interconnected stories, it explores themes of love, friendship, art, and the quest for spiritual fulfillment. Wilder's intricate character development and vivid prose invite readers to reflect on the complexities of human relationships and the search for meaning in life. The novel blends elements of mystery and introspection, showcasing Wilder's literary versatility and his engagement with profound philosophical questions.

Ez az amerikai saga egy krimi történet: egy ártatlanul meggyilkolt személyt halálra ítélnek, majd a kivégzésre szállítás közben maszkosok kiszabadítják. Ő elkezdi a menekülését, családja soha többé nem látja. Visszatekintések és jövőbeli perspektívák révén fokozatosan bontakozik ki két amerikai család története, a meggyilkolt és a feltételezett gyilkos családja. A nagy regény mögött a lét és halál értelme iránti kérdés áll. "A teremtés nyolcadik napja" egy széleskörű, két évtizedet felölelő regény, amely frissességgel, gazdag tapasztalatokkal és mellékszálakkal, valamint cselekményekkel bővelkedik.

Ein zeitloses Statement über menschliche Schwächen und menschliche Ausdauer, ist "Wir sind noch einmal davongekommen" Thornton Wilders brillantes, mit dem Pulitzer-Preis ausgezeichnetes Stück. Es kombiniert Farce, Burleske und Satire und zeigt eine ewige Familie, die eine Katastrophe nach der anderen übersteht, von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart. Treffen Sie George und Maggie Antrobus (seit 5.000 Jahren verheiratet); ihre beiden Kinder, Gladys und Henry (in jeder Hinsicht perfekt!); und ihre Dienerin, Sabina (die alterslose Vampirin), während sie Eis, Flut und Krieg überwinden – nur mit knapper Not. Witzig, clever und provokant zeigt "Wir sind noch einmal davongekommen" Wilders erzählerisches Genie und sein außergewöhnliches Talent, tief in die menschliche Psyche einzutauchen.

E.O´Neill: Ľadár prichádza, T. Wilder - Iba o vlások, T. Williams - Kráľovská cesta, A. Miller - Skúška ohňom

Posledné románovej dielo amerického autora je pôvabnou pikareskní mozaikou, obsahuje rad autobiografických prvkov a je považované za jeden z vrcholov jeho tvorby. Kniha sa skladá z trinástich voľne na seba nadväzujúcich príbehov, odohrávajúcich sa v luxusnom prímorskom letovisku v polovici 20. rokov 20. storočia. Sú prepojené postavou mladého učiteľa, prostého a slobodomyseľného človeka, ktorý si zaumienil prežiť v tomto mieste nejaký čas a dôsledne sa vyhýba všetkému, čo by mu mohlo vyniesť nejaký majetok. Nedokáže si ale odoprieť v niektorých prípadoch zasiahnuť do osudov svojich zverencov, pričom sa úzkostlivo snažia ubrániť vlastné slobodu a nezávislosť. Vyniká neobyčajnou predstavivosťou a vynaliezavosťou, ktoré mu pomáhajú vyriešiť aj tie nejdelikátnější záležitosti svojich blížnych s hlbokým pochopením a k všeobecnej spokojnosti.

V piatok, dvadsiateho júla 1714, na poludnie, sa pretrhol najkrajší most v celom Peru a do priepasti svrhol piatich pocestných. Tento most bol na hradskej medzi Limou a Cuzcom a každý deň prechádzalo po ňom na stá ľudí. Viac než pred sto rokmi uplietli ho z vŕbového prútia Inkovia a návštevníkovmesta zakaždým vodievali pozrieť si ho. Číry rebrík z tenkých sprúžľov, so zábradlím zo suchého popínačia, pnul sa nad úžľabinou. S koňmi a kočiarmi a nosidlami bolo treba schádzať niekoľko sto stôp do hĺbky a na pltiach prejsť úzku riavu, lenže nikto, ani vicekráľ, ba ani arcibiskup z Limy, s batožinou nesostupoval, lež radšej prešiel po povestnom moste San Luis Rey.

Zdanlivo autentické listy, výroky, tajné dokumenty, úvahy a spomienky vykresľujú, čo predchádzalo zavraždeniu Gaia Julia Caesara. Autor čerpal z rôznorodých, často i protichodných dobových materiálov, vďaka čomu jeho román vytvára široký obraz doby a spoločnosti v prvej polovici I. storočia p.n.l. Prvé slovenské vydanie.

Formou fiktivních dopisů poskládaných posledních osm měsíců vlády Julia Caesara, evokace atmosféry tehdejšího Říma, korespondence jeho přátel i nepřátel, vážených měšťanů Říma i Kleopatry.

Realistický román amerického dramatika a prozaika přináší panoramatický pohled na americký život na sklonku minulého a na počátku tohoto století. V hornickém městečku je zastřelen vážený občan a z vraždy je obviněn a k smrti odsouzen jeho blízký spolupracovník a přítel rodiny, přičemž cestou na popraviště je mu umožněn útěk. Autor, který rozvíjí, dotváří a objasňuje maloměstskou tragédii vraždy z filosofického nadhledu, se v románě zamýšlí s ironií i s neochabující humanistickou vírou nad osmým dnem lidstva – dvacátým stoletím.

Realistický román amerického dramatika a prozaika prináša panoramatický pohľad na americký život na sklonku minulého a na počiatku tohto storočia. V horníckom mestečku je zastrelený vážený občan a z vraždy je obvinený a k smrti odsúdený jeho blízky spolupracovník a priateľ rodiny, pričomcestou na popravisko je mu umožnený útek. Autor, ktorý rozvíja, dotvára a objasňuje malomestskú tragédiu vraždy z filozofického nadhľadu, sa v románe zamýšľa s iróniou i s neochabujúcou humanistickou vierou nad ôsmym dňom ľudstva – dvadsiatym storočím.