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by: T. S. Eliot
List Price: $12.00Amazon.com's Price: $9.60 You Save: $2.40 (20%)Prices subject to change. Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 822.912
EAN: 9780156182898
ISBN: 0156182890
Label: Harvest Books
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 204
Publication Date: March 18, 1964
Publisher: Harvest Books
Sales Rank: 311916
Studio: Harvest Books
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
A modern verse play about the search for meaning, in which a psychiatrist is the catalyst for the action. “An authentic modern masterpiece” (New York Post). “Eliot really does portray real-seeming characters. He cuts down his poetic effects to the minimum, and then finally rewards us with most beautiful poetry” (Stephen Spender).
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Party Crashers
T.S. Eliot is best known for his modern absurdist poetry, which deftly painted landscapes and characters both grim and gorgeous. His attempts at drama seem much more of a mixed bag. While I greatly enjoyed "Murder in the Cathedral", I was not so amused with "The Cocktail Party".
Eliot delves right into the action in Act I, with a small party of guests conversing in Edward Chamberlayne's London flat. Their host is distracted, and after all of the guests leave, he confesses his problem ... Read More
Rating:  - Absurdist Merry Go Round
The piece may be considered a precursor to Edward Albee's works. The opening is the Chamberlaynes' flat. Julia occupies the center of the storytelling. Edward is the host. Julia describes herself as a tough old woman. Edward claims his wife Lavinia is tending an old aunt in the depths of Essex.
After most of the guests exit, Edward is left with the unidentified guest. It is learned that Lavinia has actually left Edward. Edward is told to resign himself to feeling ridiculous. Alex ... Read More
Rating:  - Survival kit in a schizophrenic society
In a world of appearances, a new species of peace-makers has been invented. The priest of old has disappeared. The psychiatrist has replaced him. He is there to listen to secrets, to sort out situations and to propose solutions to human problems. The very few that are worth it can become the saints of today, going to foreign desolate countries and helping people out of their difficulties, fighting poverty and diseases, bringing the christian faith to pagan people, living in suffering and dire hardship. ... Read More
Rating: - Funny-strange, not funny-haha
Although this play of 1950 was Eliot's first full-length comedy, he had made an earlier stab at the genre in the 1920s: "Sweeney Agonistes," a first-rate work that unfortunately remained unfinished and is now included in collections of Eliot's poetry. "Sweeney" was a jazzy, dark comedy with originality and verve; by comparison, "The Cocktail Party" is tepid indeed.
Even judged on its own merits, however, this play falls short. The first half is enjoyable enough: an unusually well-written English ... Read More
Rating: - Wonderful!
I am personally not a fan of Eliot, due to the fact that I, most unfortunately, started off with "The Wasteland", which is, as I am sure anyone reading this review will know, is not exactly an easy read, especially at age 12. However, "The Cocktail Party" seems to grasp me still, days after I have finished reading it. It is such a witty, humorous comedy that mocks the modern ages, and pretty much everyone who seems to be a part of this insane, chaotic world (at least as I understood it). I recommend this ... Read More
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