Johan August Strindberg was born on January 22nd 1849 in Stockholm in Sweden. It was only at the age of 32 that Strindberg managed to break through as a playwright with lsquo;Master Olefrsquo;. Of course with a predecessor as famous as Henrik Ibsen overshadowing everything it was difficult; perhaps; to make headway. However Stringberg took to the task; exploring a wide range of styles; experimenting at every opportunity and with The Red Room wrote what is lauded as the first modern Swedish novel. His career spanned some 60 plays and another 30 novels and associated texts. Whilst he was prolific writer he was also something of a polymath; a telegrapher; theosophist; painter; photographer and alchemist. Much of the 1890rsquo;s was spent abroad but several psychotic attacks between 1894 to 1896 (referred to as his "Inferno crisis") led to his hospitalisation and return to Sweden. His works continued to expand and reshape the boundaries of theatre and many are considered classics and deservedly so. Strindberg became ill with pneumonia during Christmas 1911 and never recovered completely. On April 9th 1912 he at last premiered in New York at the Berkeley Theatre with lsquo;The Fatherrsquo;. He died on 14 May 1912 at the age of 63. Strindberg was interred in the Norra begravningsplatsen in Stockholm.
#3658844 in eBooks 2014-11-20 2014-11-20File Name: B00QEGHBBU
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The elusive brilliance of Donald RichieBy DavalonAs I have complained to ; and will continue to until they change their policy; three stars does not equal "okay." Neither does it mean "average;" or any other words associated with it. It means it is not great and it is not bad. It means it has flashes of brilliance and other times doesnt quite get there. So; I start my review off with this caveat. I wanted to give it 3 stars; but I would never insult the memory of Donald Richie by choosing such a pedestrian rating.But 4 stars is pushing it. This little book of "portraits" of people Donald Richie met while he spent his life in Japan is mostly fascinating; sometimes highly erotic; and other times (not often) the writer is a bit too full of himself. Some of the portraits feel like he had a word count he had to reach for an article in a newspaper; and; by God; he reached it. Some of the people he "portrayed" were not worth the time. But others; mainly the troubled son of a woman that asked Donald Richie to be his father; were erotically charged and almost poetically written. Then there is story of the twin sisters; the neighbor and the geisha; all of them expertly portrayed. Richie has this unique style where you are right there with him... when hes willing to let his guard down and stop being so clever. Other times you do marvel at the way he has with a word; but some of the subjects just werent worth covering.I would say that if you have an interest or knowledge about the Japan that once was (oh; how beautiful; harsh; strange and fantastic it must have been); specifically the people; this will be an interesting read. I was sorry when it was over; because; by the time Richie had interacted with the Empress of Japan; I felt he was finally getting his footing... but then the book ended soon after. So; there are hidden gems here and you will quickly determine what they are.That said; ; please give me the respect I deserve by not telling me that 3 stars is "okay" -- why do you have to qualify what the stars "mean"? Arent people on intelligent enough to figure out that 1 star doesnt have the power of 5?0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. and paint a beautiful picture of the country as many of us will ...By Masya S.Richie got below the surface of Japan; and writes with compassion about the various people he met; from the ordinary to the imperial. They all came alive to me; and paint a beautiful picture of the country as many of us will never get to see it. I first borrowed this book from the library; but then decided this had to be on my (virtual) shelf; so bought it and re-read it with joy.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Pretty nice collection of insights into various Japanese personalitiesBy Mr AxolotlPretty nice collection of insights into various Japanese personalities; some famous; most are not. I plan to read more of Richie.
