Albert Reiner Glaap Bücher

EINE ERZÄHLSTIMME VOLLER WUT UND LEBENDIGKEIT »Will oder kann man aus der kanadischen Literatur des zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts nur eine Autorin lesen, so muss es Margaret Laurence sein. Wer es nicht tut, verpasst die Essenz des Lebens.« Jan Wilm, FAZ Mit über neunzig will Hagar Shipley nicht wahrhaben, dass ihre Kräfte schwinden, Sohn und Schwiegertochter mit ihrer Pflege überfordert sind. Mit dem letzten Funken Lebenskraft kämpft sie gegen den Umzug in ein Pflegeheim. Während sie mit Marvin und Doris in Konfrontation geht, wird sie mehr und mehr überschwemmt von den Erinnerungen an ihre Kindheit und Jugend, ihre Ehe mit dem Farmer Bram und das Aufwachsen ihrer Söhne. Schonungslos reflektiert sie teils mit Bitterkeit, teils mit Humor, immer aber mit großem Scharfsinn die Höhen und Tiefen ihres Lebens. Dabei bedauert sie vieles, aber bereut nichts. Und bittet weder Gott noch die Menschen um Vergebung. »Voller Grotesken und auch voll Humor – ein grandios feingestricktes Buch über eine eigentlich unsympathische Frau, die wir am Ende wirklich lieb haben.« Elke Heidenreich

Alan Ayckbourn, one of England’s best-known director-playwrights, has so far written more than 80 stage plays, which he has directed at the Stephen Joseph Theatre in Scarborough, Yorkshire, his very own ‘Ayckbournia.’ The first part of this volume deals with the make-up of Ayckbourn’s work and introduces the reader to some of the specifics of the SJT. The success of the English productions has ‒ over the past decades ‒ inspired theatre directors elsewhere to stage Ayckbourn’s plays in translation. The main part of this publication gives an insight into German productions of the ‘bard’s’ plays in German theatres: Where have they been staged? In which German cities? What have theatre critics had to say? How have the productions been received by German audiences? Which of the plays have been on the programme for a relatively long time? One may ask what lies behind the interest German theatregoers show in Ayckbourn’s plays, in English comedy in general. Alan Ayckbourn himself, a little tongue-in-cheek, told me of a woman who, after attending a performance of one of his plays, admitted to him that she wouldn’t have laughed so much if she had known what she was laughing about. English comedies have more than one dimension. There is something lurking under their entertaining surface.

This booklet serves as a handy reference, a ‘vademecum’—a term from the 16th and 17th centuries for portable books designed to provide essential facts on specific subjects. Today, it can be a useful companion for those interested in the creative process of one of Britain’s leading director-playwrights. While it does not delve into detailed analyses of Alan Ayckbourn’s seventy-eight comedies, it highlights key stages in his artistic development. Themes such as longevity, memory, chance, and randomness have emerged in his recent works. Over time, Ayckbourn's structural inventiveness has become more complex, encouraging audiences to actively interpret the intrinsic messages of his plays. Recently, a series of five short plays titled Roundelay (2014) was produced, allowing for performance in any order. This format invites the audience to explore potential connections between the events and characters. In contrast, Confusions, originally staged in the 1970s and recently remounted, consists of five short plays meant to be performed in a specific sequence. The differences between Roundelay and Confusions offer readers an opportunity to engage with Ayckbourn’s evolving theatrical vision.

Words can illuminate the life and culture of their users. This book invites readers to explore the cultural history embedded in modern English, revealing the influences that have shaped the language. Instead of merely looking out, it encourages a deep dive into the English language's evolution. From its foundational roots to contemporary usage, readers embark on a comprehensive tour, discovering the intricate details within. Part I delves into the history of English, highlighting the diverse peoples and cultures that have contributed to its development. Part II examines the language's inner mechanics, while Part III categorizes words into semantic fields. Some words and their histories may appear in multiple sections, illustrating the interconnectedness of etymologies and the richness of language. This work is not an academic text or a linguistic primer; rather, it serves as an invitation for those captivated by words, their histories, and language itself. Join this exploration of languages, cultures, and peoples, and peer through the windows that reveal the vibrant tapestry of English life and culture.