The Grove Companion to Samuel Beckett: A Reader's Guide to His Works, Life, and Thought

by C.J. Ackerley, S.E. Gontarski

The Nobel Prize winning author Samuel Beckett is a literary treasure, and this work represents the only comprehensive reference to the concepts, characters, and biographical details mentioned by, or related to, Beckett. Painstakingly and lovingly compiled by acclaimed Beckett scholars C.J. Ackerley and S.E. Gontarski, it is alphabetical, cross-referenced, and laid out in a very user-friendly format. The Grove Companion to Samuel Beckett provides an organized trove of information for students and scholars alike, and is a must for any serious reader of Beckett. As most Beckettians know, “reading [him] for the first time is an experience like no other in modern literature.” (Paul Auster)

Genres: Reference, Literary Criticism, Literature, Nonfiction, Criticism

608 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Skrivena stranica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nepraktično i površno.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Companion consists of brief, alphabetically arranged entries on the themes, inspirations, references and people that appear across Samuel Beckett’s output of prose, drama, and poetry. Thus you’ll find entries like “Perraul, Charles: French lawyer and author of fairy tales such as...” and “Julian of Norwich: an anchorite who dwelt in the churchyard of St. Julian at Norwich...” followed by these figures’ appearances in specific Beckett texts. The book also describes some of the people (actors, friends) with whom Beckett maintained relationships during his life, as well as the public reception of his writings such as musical settings of his works and critical journals dedicated to him.

Though it can be read cover-to-cover by Beckett anoraks, it is not really meant to be. Consequently, this does not intend to be a convenient introduction to Samuel Beckett’s work, and if you want one of those you’ll have to look elsewhere (like the guides by Ronan McDonald or Hugh Kenner). However, for someone already into Beckett, this is a fun guide. Not only will it help you understand the more obscure allusions that Beckett makes to literary forebears, it reveals the interconnections among Beckett’s works and his favourite tropes . An entry for “sausage poisoning” here, for example, shows how this peculiar tragic fate of characters appeared in more than one of his works.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

what an indispensable reference for the Beckett-o-phile! utilize this tome only after first reading Beckett's published works, else you get lost tracking all his literary, artistic, and linguistic references while you read them... interesting and fascinating to see the breadth of scholarship Beckett could rely on and incorporate into his works, without any unseemly appearance of trying to impress his readership... essential for those truly keen on knowing the genesis and development of Beckett's writings...

[Liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

phenomenal sources