Strindberg's Ghost Sonata

by Egil Törnqvist

Generally considered one of milestones in the development of modern drama, August Strindberg's chamber play The Ghost Sonata (1907) has variously been hailed as the first expressionist, surrealist and absurdist drama.

In this monograph of the play as text and as performance —the first of its kind—Egil Törnqvist examines, in four chapters, the source text, various translations of it into English, the stage versions of Max Reinhardt, Olof Molander and Ingmar Bergman, and select radio and TV adaptations. In two framing chapters the background and impact of the play are illuminated. Focusing on Bergman's 1973 production, the book in addition contains a rehearsal diary and a transcription of this production. It is concluded with an annotated list of select productions.

270 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Per Egil Törnqvist. From 1969 to 1997 he was professor of Scandinavian languages and literature at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Reviews

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only like, forty pages but it is a bit strange. I had to keep going back over the passages trying to figure out exactly what was going on. I do, however, enjoy Strindberg very much and have enjoyed other things by him much more.