After Expressionism had run its feverish course, its foremost exponent Georg Kaiser (1878-1945) — The Burghers of Calais, From Morn to Midnight, Gas -- proved equally adept at the lighter fare demanded by post-war audiences. Of some nine hundred comedies premièred in the Weimar era, his Pulp Fiction was an early triumph, often revived and played now as parody of a contagious literary genre, now as critique of Old World pieties. The New Woman emerged even more clearly towards the end of the ‘Roaring Twenties’ in Clairvoyance — though now also as antagonist, from whose vampish sophistication the loving wife emancipates both self and wayward husband. Between these two comedies, in One Day in October (acclaimed especially in Gustav Gründgens’s gripping production) focus shifts to psychological wrestling in deadly earnest over the parentage of a child. A parallel dilemma underlies the compelling plot, rising tension and searing climax of Agnete -- an uncanny precursor of the ‘Heimkehrer’ literature inspired by soldiers and captives returning home after 1945. This was indeed a fitting play to mark the rebirth of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1949. Kaiser had died in exile, though not before taking leave, like Prospero, with another wry comedy, The Gordian Egg.
Fred Bridgham’s studies of German literature and history of ideas have been wide-ranging. The present volume arose from his research into Georg Kaiser as curator of From Vienna to Weimar (music, cabaret, film) at Kings Place, London.
Reviews:
‘This volume is a valuable addition to world literature libraries, and of great interest to scholars of theatre... Scholars can be grateful to Bridgham for his efforts in placing these works before a broader public.’ — Carole J. Lambert, Translation and Literature 27, 2019, 100-07 (full text online)
Bridgham, Fred, ‘Front Matter’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. [i]–[iv]
First footnote reference:35 Fred Bridgham, ‘Front Matter’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. [i]–[iv], p. 21.
Bridgham, Fred. 2016. ‘Front Matter’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA), pp. [i]–[iv]
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Bridgham 2016: 21).
Bridgham, Fred, ‘Table of Contents’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. [v]–[vi]
First footnote reference:35 Fred Bridgham, ‘Table of Contents’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. [v]–[vi], p. 21.
Bridgham, Fred. 2016. ‘Table of Contents’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA), pp. [v]–[vi]
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Bridgham 2016: 21).
Bridgham, Fred, introduction to , in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. 1–12
First footnote reference:35 Fred Bridgham, introduction to , in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. 1–12, p. 21.
Bridgham, Fred. 2016. Introduction to , in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA), pp. 1–12
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Bridgham 2016: 21).
Bridgham, Fred, ‘Pulp Fiction (Kolportage, 1924)’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. 13–92
First footnote reference:35 Fred Bridgham, ‘Pulp Fiction (Kolportage, 1924)’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. 13–92, p. 21.
Bridgham, Fred. 2016. ‘Pulp Fiction (Kolportage, 1924)’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA), pp. 13–92
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Bridgham 2016: 21).
Bridgham, Fred, ‘One Day in October (Oktobertag, 1927)’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. 93–148
First footnote reference:35 Fred Bridgham, ‘One Day in October (Oktobertag, 1927)’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. 93–148, p. 21.
Bridgham, Fred. 2016. ‘One Day in October (Oktobertag, 1927)’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA), pp. 93–148
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Bridgham 2016: 21).
Bridgham, Fred, ‘Clairvoyance (Hellseherei, 1929)’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. 149–214
First footnote reference:35 Fred Bridgham, ‘Clairvoyance (Hellseherei, 1929)’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. 149–214, p. 21.
Bridgham, Fred. 2016. ‘Clairvoyance (Hellseherei, 1929)’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA), pp. 149–214
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Bridgham 2016: 21).
Bridgham, Fred, ‘Agnete (1935)’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. 215–304
First footnote reference:35 Fred Bridgham, ‘Agnete (1935)’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. 215–304, p. 21.
Bridgham, Fred. 2016. ‘Agnete (1935)’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA), pp. 215–304
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Bridgham 2016: 21).
Bridgham, Fred, ‘The Gordian Egg (Das gordische Ei, 1941)’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. 305–80
First footnote reference:35 Fred Bridgham, ‘The Gordian Egg (Das gordische Ei, 1941)’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. 305–80, p. 21.
Bridgham, Fred. 2016. ‘The Gordian Egg (Das gordische Ei, 1941)’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA), pp. 305–80
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Bridgham 2016: 21).
Bridgham, Fred, ‘Back Matter’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. 381–82
First footnote reference:35 Fred Bridgham, ‘Back Matter’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), pp. 381–82, p. 21.
Bridgham, Fred. 2016. ‘Back Matter’, in Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA), pp. 381–82
Example citation: ‘A quotation occurring on page 21 of this work’ (Bridgham 2016: 21).
Bridgham, Fred (trans.), Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016)
First footnote reference:35Georg Kaiser, After Expressionism: Five Plays, trans. by Fred Bridgham, New Translations, 11 (Cambridge: MHRA, 2016), p. 21.
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