The Elegant Variation: SAMUEL BECKETT, APRIL 13, 1906

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April 13, 2006

SAMUEL BECKETT, APRIL 13, 1906

Sam

Like much of the rest of the reading public, we pause in our paces today to doff our bowlers in recognition of the centenary of Samuel Beckett's birth. We thought of running off with an appropriately Beckettian tribute:

CURTAIN.

Candles. A whoosh. The candles go dark.

CURTAIN.

But that seemed to offend our sense of duty, and so instead, we offer up the following compendium of interesting Beckettania with which to spend your day. In no particular order:

* The Beckett home page at the excellent Modern Word.
* The University of Antwerp's Endpage.
* Beckett's Nobel Prize presentation speech:

Mix a powerful imagination with a logic in absurdum, and the result will be either a paradox or an Irishman. If it is an Irishman, you will get the paradox into the bargain

* The Guardian's Beckett page.
* His IMDB page. (Who knew?)
* The homepage of the Beckett Collection at the serendipitously named University of Reading.
* A good collection of events observing the centenary.

THE PLAYS:

* Waiting for Godot available online.
* Endgame available online.
* Play available online.

And finally, do check out the Samuel Beckett Online Resources and Links page. It's a homemade hodgepodge, not much to look at, but includes links to essay and criticism including appraisals by John Banville and Stephen Spender. And knowing our predilections, don't pass up "The Joys of Cycling with Beckett."

Just like I did half a century later, Beckett discovered and explored his land of heart's desire on a cycling tour. In June 1926, he went to France and for a few weeks pedalled through the Loire valley. Right at the beginning he got aquainted with a young American named Charles C. Clarke and when Clarke returned to Europe the following year, he joined Beckett for some time in Foxrock, from where both friends made several cycling trips into Co. Wicklow. From this time on, the bicycle had regained its place in Beckett's heart and subsequently found its way into the world of his literary works.

We can't vouch for the veracity but we'd like to think it's true.

Posted at 12:01 AM in Litlinks | Permalink

Comments

Pretty funny! I must admit I laughed.

Posted by: Steven Augustine | April 13, 2006 at 03:25 AM

In the summer of '92 I saw Waiting for Godot performed in Irish by a company from Belfast in Galway. Estragon wore Doc Martens (of course); Vladimir resembled a tinker; Lucky was Christlike; and Pozzo wore a bowler, a sawed-off leather motorcycle jacket, and a priest's collar. I'd never read the play and didn't "understand" a word of it but it remains one of the most thrilling performances I've ever seen.

Posted by: Jim Ruland | April 13, 2006 at 08:53 AM

A couple of years ago what is now WordTheatre did a staged reading where they read a story of mine (by Andrew McCarthy), some very old children's story (read by a rather snotty Minnie Driver) and some unpublished Samuel Beckett story (read by a very old man). Here's what I recall of the Beckett story:

"The words, the words, the words, the words..."

That was repeated about 8 dozen times during the course of the story and I swore, from that night forward, that I'd never read Beckett again unless I also had the chance to look down Minnie Driver's top as well (which is what made that reading of more interest than most)

Posted by: tod goldberg | April 13, 2006 at 08:30 PM

Tod, after you die (hopefully no time soon), I'll have a washed up actor read one of your unpublished stories and we'all nod our heads together and say, "What a wanker." I guess my point is that some "tributes" do more harm than good. Go Dodgers.

Posted by: Jim Ruland | April 14, 2006 at 05:03 PM

Samuel Beckett is an amazing writer who lived a fascinating life. I live in Dublin and go to the college where he studied. His centenary celebrations are currently taking place in Dublin and it's really an event, so much is going on in homage to him.

Posted by: Rima | April 19, 2006 at 06:55 AM

Mark, that IMDB page is quite interesting. What about this doco, Rockaby, co-directed by D.A. Pennebaker, no less:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289427/

Also I rather liked the listings of Beckett as 'miscellaneous crew'. Hehe.

Posted by: genevieve | April 26, 2006 at 04:45 PM

No sooner there than there always --
Has this poem been published, or is it only in the hands of Beckett's biographer?

Posted by: Thomas Taylor | April 20, 2008 at 11:24 AM

Hi,
I am working on a documentary of the Beckett play Waiting for Godot. I came across a photo of Beckett on your blog http://marksarvas.blogs.com/elegvar/2006/04/like_much_of_th.html
and I would like to use it in the documentary we are making. Can you tell me where you sourced it from or who ownes the copyright?
Kind regards,
Claire.

Posted by: Claire Mc Manus | January 28, 2011 at 04:12 AM

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The Elegant Variation

A Literary Weblog.
A Guardian Top 10 Literary Blog * A Forbes "Best of the Web" Pick * A Los Angeles Magazine Top Los Angeles Blog
"Really brave ... or really stupid" - NPR

April 13, 2006

SAMUEL BECKETT, APRIL 13, 1906

Comments

MY NOVEL

WORTHY READINGS

TEV DEFINED

RECOMMENDED

THIS GUN FOR HIRE:
Reviews & Criticism

SECOND LOOK

Categories

The Elegant Variation

A Literary Weblog. A Guardian Top 10 Literary Blog * A Forbes "Best of the Web" Pick * A Los Angeles Magazine Top Los Angeles Blog "Really brave ... or really stupid" - NPR

April 13, 2006

SAMUEL BECKETT, APRIL 13, 1906

Comments

MY NOVEL

WORTHY READINGS

TEV DEFINED

RECOMMENDED

THIS GUN FOR HIRE: Reviews & Criticism

SECOND LOOK

Categories

A Literary Weblog.
A Guardian Top 10 Literary Blog * A Forbes "Best of the Web" Pick * A Los Angeles Magazine Top Los Angeles Blog
"Really brave ... or really stupid" - NPR

THIS GUN FOR HIRE:
Reviews & Criticism