The empire builders;

by Boris Vian

English, French (translation)

Genres: Plays, Drama, Theatre, France, Fiction

58 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Boris Vian was a French polymath: writer, poet, musician, singer, translator, critic, actor, inventor and engineer. He is best remembered for novels such as L’Écume des jours and L'Arrache-cœur (translated into English as Froth on the Daydream and Heartsnatcher, respectively). He is also known for highly controversial "criminal" fiction released under the pseudonym Vernon Sullivan and some of his songs (particularly the anti-war Le Déserteur). Vian was also fascinated with jazz: he served as liaison for, among others, Duke Ellington and Miles Davis in Paris, wrote for several French jazz-reviews (Le Jazz Hot, Paris Jazz) and published numerous articles dealing with jazz both in the United States and in France.

Reviews

[José · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absurda, es la destrucción del Imperio de una familia burguesa.

[Tosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Marx Brothers type of action play by Boris Vian. Or is it more like Tom and Jerry. About a family that is under attack. Not exactly total family values type of work, but then again it's pretty funny as well. I actaully saw a production of "The Enpire Builders" a couple of years ago. Vian's theater works are a little bit different than his novels. You can tell it's the same author, but the pacing is slightly different.

[Malcolm · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm starting to accept that it's more fun to read *about* Boris Vian than it is to read anything he wrote.

[Luboš · Rating 4 out of 5]

Postavy ve hře neustále utíkají do vyšších pater, utíkají pře hlukem, který symbolizuje...

----citace----
Zenóbie: Proč musíme vždycky utíkat, když slyšíme ten hluk? (Otec i matka stojí se sklopenýma očima) Co je to za hluk, maminko, řekni mi to!
Matka: Zenóbie, ty můj andílku, už jsme ti to stokrát říkali, aby ses na to neptala.
Otec: (Vyhýbavě) My sami nevíme, co to je. Kdybychom to věděli, tak ti to povíme.
Zenóbie: Ty přeci všecko víš, všemu rozumíš!
Otec: Téměř všemu! Jenže tohle je něco výjimečného, něco mimořádného. Já rozumím věcem, které jsou v mezích naší zkušenosti, které mají reálnou existenci.
Zenóbie: Tak ten hluk ve skutečnosti neexistuje?
Otec: V podstatě neexistuje.
Matka: Je třeba ho chápat obrazně.
Otec: Jako symbol.
Matka: Jako znamení.
...
Zenóbie: Ale když to ve skutečnosti neexistuje, tak proč se vždycky stěhujeme?

[Melda Dinçel · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is hard to talk about Vian and his style. You have to figure it out by yourself. All I can say is shmurz is you, me and every single thing you can and cannot imagine.

[blondie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Το έργο του Βιάν, βαθιά αλληγορικό και αφηρημένο, αναδύει την υπαρξιακή αγωνία του ανθρώπου μπροστά στην αναπόδραστη φθορά, μετατρέποντας την αγωνιώδη προσπάθεια για διαφυγή, μέσα από την οικογένεια, τη θρησκεία ή την πατρίδα, σε μια σπαρακτική και ποιητική αποτύπωση της καταδίκης στην απόλυτη μοναξιά.

[Gabi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Juste une pièce de théâtre sur un Schmürz et du Bruit et on ne sait pas ce qu'il représente... un peu long pour pas grand chose

[Efe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absürt oyunları sevenler için bulunmaz nimet, diğerleri için de günü kurtarmaya yeter.

Vian'la yıldızımın hayatımın geri kalanında da barışacağını sanmam. Mezarlarınıza Tüküreceğim'i nefret ederek okumuştum. İmparatorluk Kuranları'ı da daha önce tiyatroda izlediğimde beğenmemiştim. Esasen kötü sahnelenmiş bir oyundu ve işi bilenler tarafından metninin daha iyi ve anlaşılır olduğu söylenmişti. Gerçekten de öyleymiş.

Anlaması biraz zor, saçma, karmaşık görünse de aslında çok basit bir mesajı olan, yer yer güzel söz oyunlarıyla lezzet veren, çok olağandışı nitelikler taşımayan bir oyun.

Oyunun son perdesi, yani Baba'nın tiradı muazzam, onun dışında kendime göre bir şey bulamadım. Oradan -oyunu anlamak için kilit cümlelerden biri olan- güzel bir alıntıyla bitireyim: ''Bütün hızımızla geleceğe doğru yol alıyoruz, o kadar hızlı gidiyoruz ki şimdiyi göremiyoruz; arkada bıraktığımız toz duman, geçmişi de siliyor gözümüzden.''

[Czarny Pies · Rating 1 out of 5]

Faute de pouvoir donner cinq étrons, je lui donne une étoile.

Les batisseurs de l'empire fait partie du mouvement du theatre de l'absurde. La piece ressemble inévitablement à En attendant Godot. Chez Godot les protagnistes ne font rien en attendant un chef qui lui dirait quoi faire. Chez les batisseurs les protagonistes mettent tous leurs efforts a se cacher leurs tetes dans la sable plutot que d'avouer ils font face a un mal qui menace leur société et leurs propres personnes. Ce n'est pas mauvais comme idée mais dans les pieces du theatre de l'absurde les idées ne vont rigoureusement nulle part.

Le theatre de l'Absurde se moque de tout. Si le lecteur croit etre le complice de l'auteur, il peut en rigoler. Personnellement, je trouve que les auteurs Absurdiste se moquent de moi et j'ai perdu toute patience.

[Josie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unjustly forgotten masterpiece of the theater of the absurd.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book in a free library in Amsterdam and read it on my bus ride to Spain.
It's a bit confusing... it's a bit sad. But somehow it keeps you going.
It is a play so it is quite short but idk I wouldn't particularly recommend it.

[Asser Mattar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes your mind wonder.

[Jessyca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une part de mystère qui laisse libre à l'imagination

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[LaurenT Forget]

Jai pas tout compris... cétait absurde... ce veut épeurant mais ne l'est pas... je sais pas comment je feel. Mieux le texte de manu frappier? Idk

[Pečivo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Průměrná divadelní hra od viana. Chybí švihlost, ale bylo to tak krátký, že sem se ani nedokázal nasrat, že je to vlastně nuda. Alegorie na lidskou zapomětlivost, kdy se jedna rodina stěhuje furt vejš a vejš v baráku až se nastěhuje na půdu a zůstane na živu jen fotr. Ten bydlí v podkroví, který je tak malý, že se tam nevejde ani tank (spoiler)

Neni se čemu divit, v baráku neni výtah. Bohužel opět potvrzeni, že neni všechno co Vian napsal kvalitativně srovnatelný s Mravencema. Život stojí za hovno.

[Philippe Mirabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malheureusement ce livre est difficile à trouvé en librairie. Pourtant, c'est une excellente pièce de théâtre de Boris Vian. En fait une des rares qu'il est écrit. C'est dommage qu'elle semble tomber dans l'oubli.

[Kit · Rating 5 out of 5]

overlooked and underappreciated masterpiece. deep and horrifying.

[Sarada · Rating 4 out of 5]

The version I read is in English - couldn't find edition on site.

[Dominic Fortin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Si je devais jouer le rôle du père, j'exploserais.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Vian so much!

[Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird-ass French play

[Antonio Papadourakis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Έξοχο θέατρο του παραλόγου!
"Είναι το πρόβλημα του αμερόληπτου παρατηρητή. Εαν παρατηρεί, δεν θα είναι αμερόληπτος. Έχει κιόλας μιά επιθυμία, να παρατηρεί. Ή πάλι θα παρατηρεί αφηρημένα και τότε δεν θα είναι καλός παρατηρητής. "
"Μα αφού συνέβη στο παρελθόν, το γεγονός δεν είναι το ίδιο. Το γεγονός που θυμάσαι είναι κάτι ολότελα διαφορετικό. "
"Το αίσθημα της μοναξιάς σ'ένα ενήλικο άτομο πώς αλλιώς μπορεί να καλλιεργηθεί παρά με την επαφή του με τους συνανθρώπους του; Αν ένιωθα μοναξιά ήταν γιατί δεν ήμουνα μόνος..... Τρέχουμε προς το μέλλον και πηγαίνουμε τόσο γρήγορα που το παρόν μας ξεφεύγει και η σκόνη που σηκώνουμε στο πέρασμα μας κρύβει το παρελθόν. "

[Soha Seliem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Capturing.. concise.. leaves a strong impression.. laid to so many interpretations ..
I liked the character of Zenobia much and could relate to it..
The play is a dramatization of pain, death, and suffering.. Everyone has a "Schmurz" in his\her life which he\she tries to ignore the existence of.. unfortunately though, one can never escape from this haunting existence no matter how hard he\she tries..