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The Poems, Short Fiction, and Criticism of Samuel Beckett: Volume IV of The Grove Centenary Editionsx$13.86
  (7 reviews)
Best Price: $24.00 $13.86
Edited by Paul Auster, this four–volume hardcover set of Beckett's canon has been designed by award-winner Laura Lindgren. Available individually, as well as in a boxed set, these books are specially bound with covers featuring images central to Beckett's works. Typographical errors that remained uncorrected in the various prior editions have now been corrected in consultation with Beckett scholars C. J. Ackerley and S. E. Gontarski.
"[Beckett] settled on philosophical comedy as the medium for his uniquely anguished, arrogant, self-doubting, scrupulous temperament. In the popular mind his name is associated with the mysterious Godot who may or may not come but for whom we wait anyhow. In this he seemed to define the mood of an age. But his range is wider than that, and his achievement far greater. Beckett was an artist possessed by a vision of life without consolation or dignity or promise of grace, in the face of which our only duty is not to lie to ourselves. It was a vision to which he gave expression in language of a virile strength and intellectual subtlety that marks him as one of the great prose stylists of the twentieth century." — J. M. Coetzee, from his Introduction
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Customer Reviews
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A beautiful edition
By A3O4LZPKPR0APX on 2006-04-18
Samuel Beckett's status as possibly the greatest dramatist of the twentieth century is unquestionable, and in this attractive volume, Grove Press has compiled all of his plays (with the exception of "Eleutheria," which Beckett suppressed and refused to translate), a complete collection previously available only in an expensive out-of-print Faber edition.
This is one in a series of four volumes publishing almost all of Beckett's oeuvre. The volume includes classics like "Waiting for Godot," "Happy Days," "Endgame" and "Krapp's Last Tape" in addition to classic shorter plays such as "Breath."
I was apprehensive about buying the Grove edition sight unseen: in the past, my copies of their paperbacks haven't held up so well (in particular my copy of Beckett's "Molloy/Malone Dies/The Unnamable", which is not only printed in an unattractive font but the spine of which cracked on nearly my first reading). But this is a beautiful hardcover volume, matching the rest of the Beckett set, with cover art of the Godotian tree, and featuring Beckett's own translations of his French-language plays. Brief introductory notes by Paul Auster and Edward Albee (in the latter note, Albee comments - surprisingly - that his favorite Beckett work are the later plays rather than the standards such as "Godot"). These introductions are short, but the dramatic work of Beckett is so fantastic and varied that nothing could do it justice but simply to begin reading.
Great, Beautiful, Incomplete
By A1KA3QWD5ZW9T0 on 2008-06-05
This is a great collection of Beckett's novels, including: Murphy, Watt, and Mercier and Camier.
Noticeably missing--and noted by Paul Auster in the editor's note--is Dream of Fair to Middling Women, published post-humously. This probably points to a rights issue with the Beckett estate, but that's conjecture.
Auster notes that Beckett's "reputation rests" on the work included in this collection and I would have to agree. He also writes that this collection is not a Collected Works, so Grove and Auster have covered their backs in missing a few works (mostly in French) here and there.
This collection includes corrections to grammar and typographical errors made in the original publications and was overseen by Auster and other leaders in the field.
All-in-all: Beckett fans will not be disappointed by this beautiful set and it makes for a great introduction for people new to his works.
Read, share, repeat.
Beckett poems and literature
By A3CUYF7EYB3KMY on 2007-12-21
An inspiration for my writing and my creativity, and I could never dare emulate him well enough. But
what a wonderful book and an excellent time to share with friends and family. I highly recommend it in
every way. I am so glad that I purchased this product and have nothing but praise for his great poetry
which I used in common correspondence immediately.
I have the 4 book hard back collection and I love it.
By A3O8Z6IZ0VU3BB on 2008-02-24
I ordered the "box set" of all four about a year ago. I had to wait 4 months for it to be delivered but it was worth it. A wonderful collection of his work. I read the play, then watch the DVD on Becket on tape. These books are good quality. Not the best on the planet, but more than acceptable. I am really glad I bought them, and that I okay'd the continuation of the order when Amazon told me of the delay. These books, and the Becket on tape of in the top 3 things I am glad I bought from Amazon.
Beckett Brilliance
By A1VS55R9I85YIB on 2008-04-14
Beautiful book. Love it. Perfect for a super nice but reasonable priced gift.
Beckett: A unique voice and an important writer who captured the post apocalyptic fear, loneliness and humor of the mid to late twentieth century.
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