Images of Beckett

by James Knowlson (Contributor)

Photographs of Samuel Beckett by John Haynes, one of the leading theater photographers in the field, appear here with three new essays by Beckett's biographer and friend, James Knowlson. Haynes' photographs include previously unpublished studies of Beckett in addition to productions and rehearsals. Knowlson's first essay combines a verbal portrait of Beckett with a personal memoir of the writer. The second essay considers the influence of paintings on his theatrical imagery while the third offers a detailed account of Beckett's work as a director of his own plays. James Knowlson was the original founder of the Beckett archive (now the International Beckett Foundation) at the University of Reading, which also houses the Beckett Collection, now the world's largest collection of Beckett resources. Knowlson's previous publications include Frescoes of the Skull: The Later Prose and Drama of Samuel Beckett (Grove, 1980) and the highly praised biography Damned to Fame: The Life of Samuel Beckett (Simon & Schuster, 1999). John Haynes was privileged to work alongside Beckett as photographer in residence at the Royal Court Theatre in the 1970s, when Beckett was directing his plays. Haynes continues to work with the leading directors and actors of British contemporary theatre.

Genres: Nonfiction

174 pages, Hardcover

First published October 13, 2003

Reviews

[William Dearth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent companion to Knowlson's "Damned to Fame" although significantly more on the technical side as to explaining Beckett's writing and directing. There are many excellent photographs of Beckett as well as the actors of his works included.