Becket

If William Shakespeare had lived in our time, he would’ve written plays similar to “Becket.” Indeed, “Becket” reminds me of “Julius Caesar”—simple, direct, with unforgettable characters undone by their life decisions. It’s a play that grabs you immediately and holds you to the closing scene, of bitterest irony. It’s a play that reads like a well-crafted novel.In the Introduction, the author, Jean Anouilh, writes: “I am not a serious man, I wrote ‘Becket’ by chance.” By chance he laid his hands on a very old copy of “The Conquest of England by the Normans” (by Augustin Thierry, “an historian of the Romantic school,” says Anouilh) and happened upon the 30 or so pages that tell the story of Becket. “I was dazzled,” he writes. “I had expected to find a saint . . . and I found a man.” Dazzled as he was, it was his wife who encouraged him to take up his pen and create a play. “Oh, how beautiful it is. Why don’t you make a play of it. It’s absolutely you!”It’s a drama of friendship between two men, between a king and his friend, his companion in pleasure and in work. “(T)his is what had gripped me about the story,”says Anouilh, “this friend who he could not cease to love though he became his worst enemy the night he was named archbishop. . . .” To quote the Bible, Becket could not serve both "God and mammon"--thus the conflict that drives the story. Becket could not serve both the English king and the Catholic church. Once appointed the Archbishop of Canterbury, Becket’s whole-hearted devotion to Henry II was redirected from serving the king to serving God. The English king was at first confused, then angry, and could not forgive Becket’s change of devotion. To compound matters, Henry II had appointed Becket Archbishop for political reasons—to fatten the English treasury. Having switched loyalties, Becket could not help but block such a scheme. Friendship, humor, honor, irony, betrayal—it’s all here. Be dazzled—read the play, even if you’ve seen the movie.

An engrossing play. A must read.

Book is better and shorter than the movie

Great value. Quick shipping. Thank you!

New condition - no issues.

One of my all-time favorites! And the film brought it so vividly to life. R it for yourself and see ead

This version was absolutely hilarious. Could actually follow "Murder in the Cathedral" with this book.

arrived on time and as expected.

A classic play, beautifully written. Made into a fine film with Peter O'Toole and Richard Burton.

Parfait état du livre. Très bonne pièce de Jean Anouilh que je recommande pour son analyse sur les rapports d'amitié.