The Visit by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
A Tragicomedy
The narrative revolves around the return of a wealthy woman to her impoverished hometown, where she offers the residents a disturbing proposition: a vast fortune in exchange for the life of the man who wronged her in her youth. As the townspeople's initial horror gives way to the corrupting influence of the promised wealth, moral integrity collapses, leading to a dark and cynical exploration of human nature, justice, and revenge. The story serves as a powerful commentary on the capacity for greed to erode community values and the price of justice in a world governed by materialism.
The 5502nd greatest book of all time
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- Published
- 1956
- Nationality
- Swiss
- Length
- Very Short
- Pages
- 100-120
- Original Language
- German
- Avg User Rating
-
(5.0)
- Alternate Titles
-
- A Visit
- Der Besuch der alten Dame
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 3 lists:
- 80th on From Oedipus to The History Boys: Michael Billington's 101 greatest plays (The Guardian)
- 89th on The Drama 100 - A Ranking of the Greatest Plays of All Time (Book)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)