Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #148717 in Books
• Published on: 2000-08-31
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Book jacket
These three plays, diverse in subject but thematically coherent, illuminate one of Sartre's major philosophical concerns: the struggle to live and act freely in a complex and constricting world.

"Lucifer and the Lord", Sartre's favourite among his plays, explores this theme in depth, dealing in the process with fundamental questions of faith and disillusionment; in "Huis Clos"--arguably Sartre's most important play--he contends that "Hell is other people", and details the afterlife of three souls trapped together in a locked room and the torments that they inflict on each other; while "The Respectable Prostitute", set in the Deep South of America, is concerned with racism, subjugation and the demands of conscience.

"One of the most brilliant and versatile writers as well as one of the most original thinkers of the 20th century" - The Times

Synopsis
These three plays, diverse in subject but thematically coherent, illuminate one of Sartre's major philosophical concerns: the struggle to live and act freely in a complex and constricting world. "Lucifer and the Lord", Sartre's favourite among his plays, explores this theme in depth, dealing in the process with fundamental questions of faith and disillusionment; in "Huis Clos" - arguably Sartre's most important play - he contends that 'Hell is other people', and details the afterlife of three souls trapped together in locked room and the torments that they inflict on each other; while "The Respectable Prostitute", set in the Deep South of America, is concerned with racism, subjugation and the demands of conscience.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful and Enlightening
Although so aptly called 'No Way Out', this book does open doors for it's readers by keeping shut the door in the room which, for these three people, each from a different walk of life, is their hell.
As you read this play, many things appear to you, subtly said, and the wonderous comments it makes sink in even days after you have read it.
This book has encouraged me to expand my existentialist fiction reading even further, and has put forward fantastical possibilities and amazed me with its subtle wit and theories.
Enjoy!!

Excellent insight into the work.
Succinct and to the point. Provides useful and orignal insights into the work. Recommended.

excellent
This book is one of the best I have ever read. Very easy to read, this short play is focused entirely on its fascinating characters, and explains - and convince you!- the very famous "Hell is other people". Shouldn't be missed.