Samuel Beckett

complete works

C=criticism
D=drama
F=fiction

P=poetry
T=translation
X=miscellaneous

Beckett is an interesting case of a bilingual author. He began writing in English, then switched to the French language when he went to live there. But he also translated his own work from French back into English. Keep in mind too that he was Irish.

English Works

1929. Dante...Bruno.Vico..Joyce (C); Assumption (F); Che sciagura (F?)

1930. 'For future reference'; 'Whoroscope'; 'From the only poet to a shining whore, for Henry Crowder to sing' (P)

1931. The possessed (D?); Proust (C); 'Hell crane to starling'; 'Alba'; 'Casket of pralinen for a daughter of a dissipated mandarin'; 'Text'; 'Yoke of liberty'; 'Return to the vestry' (P) 1932. Sedendo et quiescendo; 'Text' (F); 'Home olga' (P); 'Dante and the lobster' (F)

1934. More pricks than kicks (F); 'Poems, by R. M. Rilke, Thomas Mc Greevy'; 'Ex cathezra'; 'Papini's Dante'; 'The essential and the incidential' (C); 'Gnome' (P); 'A case in a thousand' (F)

The Complete Critical Guide to Samuel Beckett is a good introduction to the man and the writer. Includes a potted biography of Beckett, an outline of the stories, novels, plays, and poetry, and pointers towards the main critical writings - from the 1960s to critics of the present day. Also includes a thorough bibliography which covers biography, criticism in books and articles, plus pointers towards specialist journals. These guides are very popular. Strongly recommended. Full review HERE

1935. 'Echo's bones and other precipitates' (P)

1936. 'An imaginitive work!' (C); 'Cascando' (P)

1938. - Murphy (F); 'Ooftish' (P); 'Denis Devlin' (C)

1945. 'McGreevy on Yeats' (C)

1946. 'Saint-Lo' (P)

1949. Three dialogues (C)

1953. Watt (F, 1942-1944)

1956. 'From an abandoned work' (F)

1957. All that fall (D)

1958. 'Fourteen letters on Endgame' (X); Krapp's last tape (D)

1959. Embers (D)

1961. Happy Days (D)

1962. Words and music (D)

1963. Play (D)

1965. Film

1966. Come and Go; Eh Joe (D)

French Works

1945. 'La peinture des van Velde, ou le monde et le pantalon' (C)

1946. 'Suite'; 'L'expulse' (F); Poemes 38-39

1948. 'Trois poemes'; 'Peintres de l'empechement' (C)

1951. Molloy; Malone meurt (F, c.1949)

1952. 'Henri Hayden, homme-peintre' (C); En attendant Godot (D, c.1949)

1953. L'innommable (F, c.1949)

1954. 'Hommage a Jack B. Yeats' (C)

1955. 'Trois poemes'; Nouvelles et Textes pour rien (F, 1945, 1950)

1957. Fin de partie; Acte sans paroles I (D)

1961. Comment c'est (F)

1963. Cascando; Acte sans paroles II (D, latter c.1956)

1965. Imagination morte imaginez (F)

1966. Assez; Bing (F)

Samuel Beckett: an illustrated life gives a short account of Beckett's little-known private life in a book which is packed with rare photographs and shots of his stage productions. The life is quite surprising: a priviledged upbringing, with talented academic prospects which he abandonded for a bohemian life. Fighting with the Maquis during the war. Little artistic success, but lots of relationships with women - and then the big breakthrough with Waiting for Godot. This is a stunning little book. Review HERE