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This first English language biography of Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) in two decades paints a strikingly new picture of one of the twentieth century's most controversial cultural icons. Drawing on letters, diaries and unpublished material, including Brecht's medical records, Parker offers a rich and enthralling account of Brecht's life and work, viewed through the prism of the artist. Tracing his extraordinary life, from his formative years in Augsburg, through the First World War, his politicisation during the Weimar Republic and his years of exile, up to the Berliner Ensemble's dazzling productions in Paris and London, Parker shows how Brecht achieved his transformative effect upon world theatre and poetry. B olt Brecht: A Literary Life is a powerful portrait of a great, compulsively contradictory personality, whose artistry left its lasting imprint on modern culture.
List of contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Prelude: Eugen Brecht Goes out to Play
Part 1 Lyrical Awakening
Part 2 Dramatic Iconoclast
Part 3 Marxist Heretic
Part 4 Chastened Survivor
Part 5 Contentious Master
Abbreviations
Bibliography
Index
Report
A magisterial biography of Brecht ... Parker's choice to present new material very much through the prism of the artist is compelling ... Fascinating reading. Rebecca Morrison The Independent 20140215
