Extravagance and Three Other Plays

Dacia Maraini - Translated by James R. Schwarten

The collection includes four theatrical works of acclaimed Italian author, Dacia Maraini, in a dual-language format (Italian/English). The works have been chosen around the themes of distress, exclusion, and various manifestations of tragedy with particular reference to women. The works were chosen within a modern and a historical reference in order to give breadth to the main themes. The individual works include: (a) Stravaganza/Extravagance. The unfolding drama alludes to the Legge Basaglia (the so-called Basaglia Law, 180/1978), whose prescriptions included the closure of insane asylums throughout Italy; (b) Camille. In this piece, Maraini offers a reinterpretation of the storied and controversial relationship between the sculptor, Auguste Rodin, and his young apprentice/assistant, Camille Claudel; (c) Storia di Isabella di Morra raccontata da Benedetto Croce/The Story of Isabella di Morra as Told by Benedetto Croce. In this play, the power of literature and the written word (the implicit, culpable “character” in this play) culminates in atrocious homicide; (d) I digiuni di Catarina da Siena/The Fasting of Catherine of Siena. Powerful relationships dominate this account of Saint Catherine’s profound religiosity.

University Press Copublishing Division / John Cabot University Press

Pages: 282 • Trim: 6½ x 9¼

978-1-61149-545-4 • Hardback • June 2015 • $128.00 • (£98.00)

978-1-61149-546-1 • eBook • June 2015 • $121.50 • (£94.00)

Subjects: Literary Collections / European / Italian, Performing Arts / Theater / Playwriting, Drama / European / Italian

Extravagance and Three Other Plays

Hardback

eBook

Summary

The collection includes four theatrical works of acclaimed Italian author, Dacia Maraini, in a dual-language format (Italian/English). The works have been chosen around the themes of distress, exclusion, and various manifestations of tragedy with particular reference to women. The works were chosen within a modern and a historical reference in order to give breadth to the main themes. The individual works include: (a) Stravaganza/Extravagance. The unfolding drama alludes to the Legge Basaglia (the so-called Basaglia Law, 180/1978), whose prescriptions included the closure of insane asylums throughout Italy; (b) Camille. In this piece, Maraini offers a reinterpretation of the storied and controversial relationship between the sculptor, Auguste Rodin, and his young apprentice/assistant, Camille Claudel; (c) Storia di Isabella di Morra raccontata da Benedetto Croce/The Story of Isabella di Morra as Told by Benedetto Croce. In this play, the power of literature and the written word (the implicit, culpable “character” in this play) culminates in atrocious homicide; (d) I digiuni di Catarina da Siena/The Fasting of Catherine of Siena. Powerful relationships dominate this account of Saint Catherine’s profound religiosity.

Details

University Press Copublishing Division / John Cabot University Press

Pages: 282 • Trim: 6½ x 9¼

978-1-61149-545-4 • Hardback • June 2015 • $128.00 • (£98.00)

978-1-61149-546-1 • eBook • June 2015 • $121.50 • (£94.00)

Subjects: Literary Collections / European / Italian, Performing Arts / Theater / Playwriting, Drama / European / Italian

Author

Dacia Maraini is an Italian writer, who has published several short stories, novels, and poetry. She helped found the Teatro del Porcospino and the Teatro della Maddalena, and has received numerous literary prizes spanning five decades.

James R. Schwarten is lecturer in Italian and Italian studies at John Cabot University.

Table of Contents

President’s Introduction by John Cabot University President Franco Pavoncello
Preface
Extravagance
Stravaganza
Camille
Camille
The Story of Isabella di Morra as Told by Benedetto Croce
Storia di Isabella di Morra raccontata da Benedetto Croce
The Fasting of Catherine of Siena
I digiuni di Catarina da Siena
About the Author
About the Translator

Extravagance and Three Other Plays

Dacia Maraini - Translated by James R. Schwarten

Extravagance and Three Other Plays

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