From Book News, Inc.
A comprehensive analysis of Pinter's plays and screenplays that covers not only his earliest work but also his recent play, Moonlight, showing how Pinter's vision illuminates the methods by which drama engages an audience and by which he redefines love and justice. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
Ann C. Hall, Ph.D., President of the Harold Pinter Society, Ohio Dominican College
"A refreshing approach to Pinter's technique."
Michael Billington
"Penelope prentice sees Pinter clearly and she sees him whole. Her book is an important contribution to Pinter studies."
Book Description
The only comprehensive guide to the plays of one of the world's greatest yet most puzzling contemporary dramatists, The Pinter Ethic penetrates the mystery of Harold Pinter's work with compelling and authoritative insights that locate and disclose the primal power of his drama in his characters' powerplay for dominance. With remarkable clarity, Penelope Prentice's close reading of Pinter's work untangles the multiple ambiguities, complex conflicts and contradictory actions which continue to baffle, bewilder, and confound critics and audiences. She reveals that Pinter's plays reflect not a vision of postmodern hopelessness in a world threatening to self-destruct, but provoke unguessed choice and action that enlarge the concept of love and link it to justice. Offering a definitive analysis of Pinter's work--from his early poetry, fiction, interviews, essays and novel The Dwarfs to his most recent play Celebration--Prentice demonstrates why Pinter's work can only be communicated through drama where attitude and intention may count for little, but where action is all.
About the Author
Penelope Prentice is Professor of English at D'Youville College. She is an award-winning poet and playwright whose works include Thriller, Michael Tyro, and How to Seduce Your Husband.
The Pinter Ethic: The Erotic Aesthetic FROM THE PUBLISHER
The only comprehensive guide to the plays of one of the world's greatest yet most puzzling contemporary dramatists, The Pinter Ethic penetrates the mystery of Harold Pinter's work with compelling and authoritative insights that locate and disclose the primal power of his drama in his characters' powerplay for dominance. With remarkable clarity, Penelope Prentice's close reading of Pinter's work untangles the multiple ambiguities, complex conflicts and contradictory actions which continue to baffle, bewilder, and confound critics and audiences. She reveals that Pinter's plays reflect not a vision of postmodern hopelessness in a world threatening to self-destruct, but provoke unguessed choice and action that enlarge the concept of love and link it to justice. Offering a definitive analysis of Pinter's work--from his early poetry, fiction, interviews, essays and novel The Dwarfs to his most recent play Celebration--Prentice demonstrates why Pinter's work can only be communicated through drama where attitude and intention may count for little, but where action is all.
FROM THE CRITICS
Booknews
A comprehensive analysis of Pinter's plays and screenplays that covers not only his earliest work but also his recent play, Moonlight, showing how Pinter's vision illuminates the methods by which drama engages an audience and by which he redefines love and justice. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)