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Beat the Devil: A Covid Monologue
Covid-19 seems to be a sort of dirty bomb, thrown into the body to cause havoc.
On the same day that the UK government finally made the first of two decisive interventions that led to a conspicuously late lockdown, David Hare contracted Covid-19. Nobody seemed to know much about it then, and many doctors are not altogether sure they know much more today. Suffering a pageant of apparently random symptoms, Hare recalls the delirium of his illness, which mixed with fear, dream, honest medicine and dishonest politics to create a monologue of furious urgency and power.
On the same day that the UK government finally made the first of two decisive interventions that led to a conspicuously late lockdown, David Hare contracted Covid-19. Nobody seemed to know much about it then, and many doctors are not altogether sure they know much more today. Suffering a pageant of apparently random symptoms, Hare recalls the delirium of his illness, which mixed with fear, dream, honest medicine and dishonest politics to create a monologue of furious urgency and power.
Kindle Edition
Published August 28, 2020
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About the author
David Hare
116 books85 followersSir David Hare (born 5 June 1947) is an English playwright, screenwriter and theatre and film director. Most notable for his stage work, Hare has also enjoyed great success with films, receiving two Academy Award nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay for writing The Hours in 2002, based on the novel written by Michael Cunningham, and The Reader in 2008, based on the novel of the same name written by Bernhard Schlink.
On West End, he had his greatest success with the plays Plenty, which he adapted into a film starring Meryl Streep in 1985, Racing Demon (1990), Skylight (1997), and Amy's View (1998). The four plays ran on Broadway in 1982–83, 1996, 1998 and 1999 respectively, earning Hare three Tony Award nominations for Best Play for the first three and two Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play. Other notable projects on stage include A Map of the World, Pravda, Murmuring Judges, The Absence of War and The Vertical Hour. He wrote screenplays for the film Wetherby and the BBC drama Page Eight (2011).
As of 2013, Hare has received two Academy Award nominations, three Golden Globe Award nominations, three Tony Award nominations and has won a BAFTA Award, a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and two Laurence Olivier Awards. He has also been awarded several critics' awards such as the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and received the Golden Bear in 1985. He was knighted in 1998.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ha...
On West End, he had his greatest success with the plays Plenty, which he adapted into a film starring Meryl Streep in 1985, Racing Demon (1990), Skylight (1997), and Amy's View (1998). The four plays ran on Broadway in 1982–83, 1996, 1998 and 1999 respectively, earning Hare three Tony Award nominations for Best Play for the first three and two Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play. Other notable projects on stage include A Map of the World, Pravda, Murmuring Judges, The Absence of War and The Vertical Hour. He wrote screenplays for the film Wetherby and the BBC drama Page Eight (2011).
As of 2013, Hare has received two Academy Award nominations, three Golden Globe Award nominations, three Tony Award nominations and has won a BAFTA Award, a Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and two Laurence Olivier Awards. He has also been awarded several critics' awards such as the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and received the Golden Bear in 1985. He was knighted in 1998.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Ha...
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 18, 2022
3.5, rounded down.
This is a slight effort, basically Hare's reportage about his experience of contracting Covid-19, and a screed against the Conservative government's failure to respond quickly and adequately. The brief 50-minute monologue was done professionally in Aug. 2020 by esteemed actor Ralph Fiennes, and for an interesting description of THAT, see my friend Harry's blog article.
The monologue is fine to just read, however, although there are some questions. Hare seems to oddly think blood takes oxygen TO the lungs, rather than the other way round, and he gives rather short shrift to his caring wife Nicola, who takes no precautions herself in her unceasing nursing of him: we never even learn whether she gets the disease also.
Regardless, as the first theatrical exploration of what the world has gone through in the past two years, it has its place - and I am glad he gives suitable excoriation to both Johnson and Trump for their bungling of the pandemic.
This is a slight effort, basically Hare's reportage about his experience of contracting Covid-19, and a screed against the Conservative government's failure to respond quickly and adequately. The brief 50-minute monologue was done professionally in Aug. 2020 by esteemed actor Ralph Fiennes, and for an interesting description of THAT, see my friend Harry's blog article.
The monologue is fine to just read, however, although there are some questions. Hare seems to oddly think blood takes oxygen TO the lungs, rather than the other way round, and he gives rather short shrift to his caring wife Nicola, who takes no precautions herself in her unceasing nursing of him: we never even learn whether she gets the disease also.
Regardless, as the first theatrical exploration of what the world has gone through in the past two years, it has its place - and I am glad he gives suitable excoriation to both Johnson and Trump for their bungling of the pandemic.
April 9, 2023
Stale political partisanship without serious thought on eg. global health, science v populism, democratic leadership.
March 22, 2025
I have no idea who this guy David Hare might be but after reading this, I sort of wish he lived next door and we could drop by and visit each other all the time. He’s clever, witty and made me laugh more than once in this short story about something truly dreadful and that is COVID.
He had it at the worst of times when it was all new and our countries were not coping or even trying as well as needed. He didn’t lose his taste but his taste changed to that of sewage and it was dreadful. Covid came and lingered for the longest time. He ran high fevers, he had breathing issues. He even had some delusions at times.
How did the USA forgive Trump? How did the U.K. forgive Boris Johnson? I wish I knew because I have yet to have pity or forgiveness for either blowhard. Johnson seems less worse because he sort of faded away for me. Instead I still hear the orange madman bragging that he’s a genius. HE is not.
Short free audible book read by the author. Worth your time! So worth your time!
He had it at the worst of times when it was all new and our countries were not coping or even trying as well as needed. He didn’t lose his taste but his taste changed to that of sewage and it was dreadful. Covid came and lingered for the longest time. He ran high fevers, he had breathing issues. He even had some delusions at times.
How did the USA forgive Trump? How did the U.K. forgive Boris Johnson? I wish I knew because I have yet to have pity or forgiveness for either blowhard. Johnson seems less worse because he sort of faded away for me. Instead I still hear the orange madman bragging that he’s a genius. HE is not.
Short free audible book read by the author. Worth your time! So worth your time!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2022
David Hare remains one if my favourite playwrights but his work is sometimes a little patchy. Some of his plays are amazing some less so. This monologue falls into the less so camp.
Interesting but sadly not brilliant. I'm left wondering what time will do to this and whether we will see some of it reappear in a more fleshed out form in the future.
Interesting but sadly not brilliant. I'm left wondering what time will do to this and whether we will see some of it reappear in a more fleshed out form in the future.
October 4, 2020
Look, I liked it.
(I wrote a blog, https://harryrmcdonald.wordpress.com/... )
(I wrote a blog, https://harryrmcdonald.wordpress.com/... )
November 24, 2024
First Person Account of the Pain and Confusion of Covid.
What was most horrifying was the lack of knowing what was causing the pain and fear that it might not stop. Hare does a great job of communicating his deepest emotion and fear. Four Stars. ****
What was most horrifying was the lack of knowing what was causing the pain and fear that it might not stop. Hare does a great job of communicating his deepest emotion and fear. Four Stars. ****
October 26, 2024
( Format : Audiobook )
" Everything tastes of sewage. "
David Hare performs his own 45 minute monologue about COVID: his days of illness and the ways in which he feels the UK was failed by its leaders to protect its citizens both at the time and later. A cry of pain for more transparency - beautiful, personal, angry and moving. The piece is introduced by Don Katz, Audible's founder, who also interviews David Hare briefly at the end.
Well written and performed, this is a free download, an easy read and well worth a listen if only to keep that time for ever remembered. Highly recommended to all.
" Everything tastes of sewage. "
David Hare performs his own 45 minute monologue about COVID: his days of illness and the ways in which he feels the UK was failed by its leaders to protect its citizens both at the time and later. A cry of pain for more transparency - beautiful, personal, angry and moving. The piece is introduced by Don Katz, Audible's founder, who also interviews David Hare briefly at the end.
Well written and performed, this is a free download, an easy read and well worth a listen if only to keep that time for ever remembered. Highly recommended to all.
January 18, 2025
This was a reminder of a time where everything had gone black. This focused the inane responses by leaders who were shown to be so wrong and so fallible, but I feel we haven’t learned.
Kindness, compassion and the idea of building something different that is new and better, has been sidetracked by greed, bombs and unflattering politics. Sad really.
But this is really good.
Kindness, compassion and the idea of building something different that is new and better, has been sidetracked by greed, bombs and unflattering politics. Sad really.
But this is really good.
October 25, 2024
Interesting piece considering I don’t often hear other’s pov when they’ve had Covid. I really liked how well he got across how confused and angry he was at the time about different things that were going on medically and politically.
December 3, 2024
A monologue about one person's experience of living through the COVID pandemic and getting sick with the disease. It's very short but manages to talk about the science, politics, and personal feelings in a way that keeps your attention.
December 12, 2024
An honest monologue about living with COVID-19 during the pandemic in England. Hare is articulate and truthful about his experiences and is not shy in sharing his opinions of the way the pandemic was (mis)handled.
September 20, 2020
A short piece by playwright Hare about his personal experience suffering Covid-19, excoriating the failings of the UK's Conservative politicians.
November 14, 2020
Short, angry, funny and devastating
I love David Hare’s sardonic voice. He pulls no punches when criticizing politicians, like a grown-up Charlie Brooker. Cutting. I learned a lot.
I love David Hare’s sardonic voice. He pulls no punches when criticizing politicians, like a grown-up Charlie Brooker. Cutting. I learned a lot.
December 19, 2020
Woohoo short buch contribution!
October 29, 2024
What not to do when you have Covid. Hindsight is 20/20.
December 3, 2024
I loved it! It is all the emotions one felt during the pandemic.
December 6, 2024
Visceral first hand account of contacting early days COVID from one of our most celebrated writers. Just wish it was longer and perhaps a bit less glib in parts.
December 13, 2024
A quick listen of a gentleman's journey through Covid-19 when it was at the beginning of the pandemic.
October 5, 2025
3.5 (rounded up)
“Survivor’s guilt, survivor’s rage”.
I loved this, especially the Licking Hitler mention. It's like a time capsule, and not a good one.
“Survivor’s guilt, survivor’s rage”.
I loved this, especially the Licking Hitler mention. It's like a time capsule, and not a good one.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews