Thornton Wilder:The Bridge of San Luis Rey and Other Novels 1926-1948 (Library of America No. 194)

图书标准信息

• 作者 Thornton Wilder 著
• 出版社 The Library of America
• 出版时间 2009-08
• 版次 1
• ISBN 9781598530452
• 定价 258.90元
• 装帧 精装
• 开本 其他
• 纸张 其他
• 页数 731页
• 正文语种 英语
• 丛书 Library of America （Hardcover）

【内容简介】

ThorntonWilderwastherarewriterwhoseachievementsasaplaywrightwerematchedbyequalabilitiesasanovelist.AscompaniontoitsvolumeofWilder'scollectedplays,TheLibraryofAmerica'seditionofhisearlynovelsandstoriesbringstogetherfivenovelsthathighlighthiswit,erudition,innovativeformalstructures,andphilosophicalwisdom.Drawingonthepost-collegiateyearhespentinRome,WilderfashionedinTheCabalaataleofyouthfulenchantmentwiththeEternalCityintheformofafictitiousmemoirofanAmericanstudentandtheenigmaticcoterieofnobleRomanswhodrawhimintotheirmidst.HefollowedthisdebutnoveltwoyearslaterwithTheBridgeofSanLuisRey,whichcatapultedhimtoliteraryprominenceandearnedhimthefirstofhisthreePulitzerprizes."TheBridge,"Wilderlaterwrote,"askedthequestionwhethertheintentionthatliesbehindlovewassufficienttojustifythedesperationofliving."Setin18th-centuryPeru,thebookisakindoftheologicaldetectivestoryconcerningafriar'sinvestigationsintothelivesoffiveindividualsbeforetheywerekilledinabridgecollapse.Anelegantlytoldparable,withcrediblehistoricalambienceandpsychologicallyroundedcharacters,TheBridgeofSanLuisReyisprimarilyaprobinginquiryintothenatureofdestinyanddivineintention:WhydidGodallowtheseparticularpeopletodie?TheWomanofAndros,basedontheAndriaofRomanwriterTerence,isameditationontheancientworldfilteredthroughthesensibilityofameditativecourtesan;Heaven'sMyDestination,adeparturefromWilder'shistoricalthemes,isapicaresquerompthroughDepression-eraAmerica;andTheIdesofMarchtakesupthestoryofJuliusCaesar'sassassinationbyimaginingtheexchangeoflettersamongsuchprominentancientfiguresasCatullus,Cleopatra,Cicero,andCaesarhimself,"gropingintheopenseasofhisunlimitedpowerforthefirstprincipleswhichshouldguidehim."Thevolumeconcludeswithaselectionofearlyshortstories-amongthem"PrécautionsInutiles,"publishedhereforthefirsttime-andaselectionofessaysthatoffersWilder'sinsightsintotheworksofSteinandJoyce,aswellasalectureonletterwritersthatbearsonbothTheBridgeofSanLuisReyandTheIdesofMarch.

【作者简介】

J.D.McClatchy,editor,istheauthorofmanybooksofpoetryandessays,including,forTheLibraryofAmerica,AmericanWritersatHome.HewrotethelibrettoforNedRorem'soperaticversionofWilder'sOurTown.HeteachesatYaleUniversity.--Thistextreferstoanoutofprintorunavailableeditionofthistitle.