The House of Bernada Alba: Full Text and Introduction (NHB Drama Classics) E-Book

Federico García Lorca

• Herausgeber: Nick Hern Books
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

Drama Classics series The world's great plays at a great little price. Each pocket-sized volume contains: a full introduction an author biography notes on historical and theatrical context a plot synopsis key dates a further reading list a glossary of unusual words and phrases (English-language texts) Lorca's extraordinarily powerful drama, The House of Bernada Alba, is the last he wrote before his assassination, explores the darkness at the heart of repression. When Bernarda's husband dies, she locks all the doors and windows. She tells her grown-up daughters to sew and be silent. 'There are eight years of mourning ahead of us. While it lasts not even the wind will get into this house.' But locks can't hold back the growing tide of desire. This edition, translated and introduced by Jo Clifford, also contains a chronology and suggestions for further reading.

Leseprobe

DRAMA CLASSICS

THE HOUSE OFBERNARDA ALBA

byFederico García Lorca

translated and introduced by Jo Clifford

NICK HERN BOOKS

London

www.nickhernbooks.co.uk

Contents

Title Page

Introduction

For Further Reading

Lorca: Key Dates

Characters

Act One

Act Two

Act Three

Translator’s Note

Copyright and Performing Rights Information

Introduction

Federico García Lorca (1898–1936)

Federico García Lorca was born on 5 June 1898. The year was a hugely significant one in Spanish cultural and political history: it gave its name to a whole generation of writers who used the events of this year as a rallying cry in efforts to convince the Spanish people of their country’s deplorable state and the desperate need for re-evaluation and change. They were called the ‘Generation of ’98’, and they included Azorín, Baroja and Ángel Ganivet.

The historical event that inspired this movement was the disastrous war with the United States, which led to the loss of Cuba, Spain’s last remaining colony. This apparently distant event was to have huge repercussions for Lorca. Cuba had been Spain’s principal source of sugar; Lorca’s father was to be astute enough to plant his land in Southern Spain with sugar beet, and so, with the aid of a series of successful land purchases, he was well placed to become one of the richest men in the Fuente Vaqueros district.