Bertolt Brecht in Context
Published on 19. February 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-1-108-44517-7 (ISBN)
Description
Bertolt Brecht in Context examines Brecht's significance and contributions as a writer and the most influential playwright of the twentieth century. It explores the specific context from which he emerged in imperial Germany during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as well as Brecht's response to the turbulent German history of the twentieth century: World Wars One and Two, the Weimar Republic, the Nazi dictatorship, the experience of exile, and ultimately the division of Germany into two competing political blocs divided by the postwar Iron Curtain. Throughout this turbulence, and in spite of it, Brecht managed to remain extraordinarily productive, revolutionizing the theater of the twentieth century and developing a new approach to language and performance. Because of his unparalleled radicalism and influence, Brecht remains controversial to this day. This book - with a Foreword by Mark Ravenhill - lays out in clear and accessible language the shape of Brecht's contribution and the reasons for his ongoing influence.
Reviews / Votes
'It should be mentioned that the generous editor Stephen Brockmann translated a number of German-language contributions himself. The book has been edited in an exemplary way, including a full bibliography, short biographies of the authors, and an index of people, works, key places, and even concepts. The index alone reveals that concepts such as Gestus and Lehrstuck (learning play) have been taken up and handled with remarkable diversity. And the Threepenny Opera is vital in many respects.' Michael Friedrichs, Dreigroschenheft Review 'Brockmann's Brecht is a forward-looking one. The excellent bibliography and index make this a useful book for readers wanting to find their way round and forge their own connections ... The best contributions start to rethink Brecht for the future too ... Indeed, the volume as a whole suggests that the new Brecht, indeed the new 'Brechts', will be relevant for English-language scholars, both students and practitioners, for a long time to come.' Karen Leeder, Modern Language ReviewMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
555 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-108-44517-7 (9781108445177)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Stephen Brockmann
Bertolt Brecht in Context
Book
06/2021
Cambridge University Press
€126.40
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Stephen Brockmann is Professor of German at Carnegie Mellon University and has served as president of the International Brecht Society since 2014. From 2002-2007 he was the managing editor of the Brecht Yearbook, and in 2011-2012 he was the president of the German Studies Association.
Content
Introduction Stephen Brockmann; Part II. Brecht's World: 1. Brecht's Augsburg years Juergen Hillesheim; 2. Models for epic theater from the Munich years: Wedekind and Valentin Meg Mumford; 3. Brecht in the Weimar republic Ronald Speirs; 4. Brecht's emergence as a young poet Dorothee Ostmeier; 5. Brecht and music: the fly in the amber Joachim Lucchesi; 6. Brecht and political theater Laura Bradley; 7. Brecht and Germany Stephen Brockmann; 8. '[She] made suggestions. We took them': Brecht's women collaborators Paula Hanssen; 9. Brecht's interviews Noah Willumsen; 10. Brecht and exile Johannes Evelein; 11. Brecht and the German Democratic Republic Mark Clark; 12. The Berliner Ensemble David Barnett; Part II. Brecht's Work: 13. The work of the theater Marc Silberman; 14. Brecht and Marxism Anthony Squiers; 15. Brecht and photography Tom Kuhn; 16. Brecht and film: medium and masses Theodore F. Rippey; 17. Brecht and fiction Ernest Schonfield; 18. Gestus in context Sabine Hake; 19. Brecht's ethics Markus Wessendorf; 20. Brecht and dialectics Joseph Dial; 21. Brecht and east Asia Antony Tatlow; 22. Brecht's work with musical composers Vera Stegmann; Part III. The World's Brecht: 23. Brecht and feminism Helen Fehervary; 24. Brecht in southern Africa Loren Kruger; 25. Brecht in the creation, production, and analysis of opera today Joy Calico; 26. Brecht and his biographers Jost Hermand; 27. Brecht editions Erdmut Wizisla; 28. Brecht and German studies Hunter Bivens; 29. Beginning where Brecht left off: Heiner Mueller and Brecht's legacy Janine Ludwig; 30. Bertolt Brecht in Brazil Juergen Pelzer; 31. World spirit versus spirit of the age: Brecht's impact and influence on East German literature and culture Kerstin Hensel; 32. Brecht in fiction Robert Cohen; 33. Brecht and contemporary experimental theater Nikolaus Mueller-Schoell; 34. Brecht and US actor training Wendy Arons; 35. Brecht and transcultural theater Guenther Heeg; 36. Thinking Brecht in(to) the university Norman Roessler; 37. 'Shrunk in translation' or: the (Ir)resistible rise of the old traduttore/traditore tradition.... Michael Morley.