Knowlson, James

Damned to fame : the life of Samuel Beckett by James Knowlson ( Book )
21 editions published between 1996 and 2007 in English and French and held by 1,744 libraries worldwide
Damned to Fame follows the reclusive literary giant's life from his birth in Foxrock, a rural suburb of Dublin, in 1906 to his death in Paris in 1989. Knowlson brilliantly re-creates Beckett's early years as a struggling author in Paris, his travels through Germany in 1936-37 as the Nazis were consolidating their power, his service in the French Resistance during World War II, and the years of literary fame and financial success that followed the first performance of his controversial Waiting for Godot (1953). Paris between the wars was a city vibrant with experimentation, both in the arts and in personal lifestyle, and Knowlson introduces us to the writers and painters who, along with the young Beckett, populated this bohemian community. Most notable was James Joyce, a fellow Irishman who became Beckett's friend and mentor and influenced him to devote his life to writing. We also meet the women in Beckett's life - his domineering mother, May; his cousin Peggy Sinclair, who died at a tragically young age; Ethna MacCarthy, his first love, whom he immortalized in his poetry and prose; Peggy Guggenheim, the American heiress and patron of the arts; and the strong and independent Suzanne Deschevaux-Dumesnil, whom he met in the late 1930s and married in 1961. Beyond recounting many previously unknown aspects of the writer's life, including his strong support for human rights and other political causes, Knowlson explores in fascinating detail the roots of Beckett's works. He shows not only how the relationship between Beckett's own experiences and his work became more oblique over time, but also how his startling postmodern images were inspired by the paintings of the Old Masters, such as Antonello da Messina, Durer, Rembrandt, and Caravaggio.

Images of Beckett by James Knowlson ( Book )
5 editions published in 2003 in English and held by 640 libraries worldwide
Sets hitherto unknown photographs of Samuel Beckett and his productions, taken by John Haynes, one of the leading theatre photographers in the field, alongside three new essays by Beckett's biographer and friend, James Knowlson.

Happy days : the production notebook of Samuel Beckett by Samuel Beckett ( Book )
18 editions published between 1978 and 1986 in 3 languages and held by 481 libraries worldwide

Frescoes of the skull : the later prose and drama of Samuel Beckett by James Knowlson ( Book )
10 editions published between 1979 and 1980 in English and held by 447 libraries worldwide

Universal language schemes in England and France, 1600-1800 by James Knowlson ( Book )
11 editions published between 1975 and 1996 in English and held by 440 libraries worldwide

Beckett remembering, remembering Beckett : a centenary celebration ( Book )
8 editions published between 2005 and 2006 in English and held by 387 libraries worldwide
The first half is comprised of interviews with Samuel Beckett. The second half is reflections on him by various people.

Krapp's last tape : with a revised text by Samuel Beckett ( Book )
11 editions published between 1980 and 1992 in English and held by 266 libraries worldwide

Waiting for Godot : with a revised text by Samuel Beckett ( Book )
6 editions published between 1993 and 1994 in English and held by 241 libraries worldwide
A reproduction of Samuel Beckett's original theatrical notebook for his play "Waiting for Godot" that includes his directorial notes, extensive revisions, and notes on his methods and techniques.

Samuel Beckett: an exhibition held at Reading University Library, May to July 1971 by James Knowlson ( Book )
1 edition published in 1971 in English and held by 154 libraries worldwide

Light and darkness in the theatre of Samuel Beckett; text of a public lecture delivered at Trinity College, Dublin, on February 7th, 1972 by James Knowlson ( Book )
3 editions published in 1972 in English and held by 151 libraries worldwide