The Irish-born playwright and novelist Samuel Beckett, b. Dublin, Apr. 13, 1906, d. Dec. 22, 1989, is best known for the absurdist drama "Waiting for Godot" (1952; Eng. trans., 1954). First performed in Paris on Jan. 5, 1953, the play received worldwide acclaim and became the first of a series of critical successes, some of them written earlier. Beckett came from a Protestant Anglo-Irish family, but much of his work was first written in French. After graduating with a degree in Romance languages from Trinity College, Dublin, Beckett spent two years (1928-30) in Paris as an exchange lecturer. Here he met James Joyce and became a member of his circle. In 1930, Beckett returned to Trinity as a lecturer.

-:- Samuel Beckett Reading List by Katharena -:- Samuel Beckett: Main Page | Thought Provoking Quotes by Samuel Beckett | Discuss existentialism and Samuel Beckett | Samuel Beckett Life and Times | Beckett's Philosophical Explorations | Samuel Beckett's Concentration on the Sordid | Beckett's Stripping of Reality | Identity of the Human Self -- Samuel Beckett | Samuel Beckett : Books and Reviews | Katharena's Essential Samuel Beckett, Ground Zero! | Theatre of the Absurd: Main Page

© Photographer: Katharena Eiermann Agency: Dreamstime.com

We are all born mad. Some remain so. If I was dead, I wouldn’t know I was dead. That’s the only thing I have against death. I want to enjoy my death. The tears of the world are a constant quality. For each one who begins to weep, somewhere else another stops. The same is true of the laugh. Nothing is funnier than unhappiness, I grant you that. . . . Yes, yes, it's the most comical thing in the world. My mistakes are my life. Just under the surface I shall be, all together at first, then separate and drift, through all the earth and perhaps in the end through a cliff into the sea, something of me. A ton of worms in an acre, that is a wonderful thought, a ton of worms, I believe it. all these calculations yes explanations yes the whole story from beginning to end yes completely false yes To find a form that accommodates the mess, that is the task of the artist now. More Quotes by Samuel Beckett: Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Literary Quotes: Master-List --Your journey through MindPleasures.com will zig-zag through an extraordinary sampling of some of the world's most thought-provoking quotations. Categories include: 100 Quotes of Love, Romance and Seduction | Quotes by Philosophers | Quotes by Playwrights | Quotes by Dreamers and Poets | Quotes by Women | The Naked Truth...: Absurdity | Art | Beauty | Belief | Change | Death | Doubt | Faith | Fear | God | Happiness | Life | Love | Money | Nature | Opinion | Philosophy | Poetry | Religion | Romance | Science | the Soul | Truth | War | Wisdom ...and many more!

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, a Nobel Prize winner, is described by many a mind as a literary genius whose extraordinary talent matches that of Dostoyevsky, Turgenev, Tolstoy, Pushkin and Gorky. Biography, quotes, photos, news articles, books and reviews.

Philosophy --The Realm of Existentialism at DividingLine.com, created by Katharena Eiermann, houses an eclectic aggregation of Philosophers, Poets, Psychologists, Playwrights and Theologians -- all major league players -- indepth biographies, books and reviews, quotations, and a state-of-the-art bookstore for a more in-depth exploration.

Poetry --Aspirennies.com, created by Katharena Eiermann, houses an exquisite selection of some of the most celebrated poets from around the World! At Aspirennies.com, one can leisurely enjoy extensive biographies, unforgettable quotations, meticulously selected essentials for understanding each poet -- and his/her contributions to the World, impressive poetry samples, book collections and original reviews.

Nature Photography: Digital Photography by Katharena Eiermann, a la Natural... join me as I tickle the naked essence of this chaotic, and seemingly absurd, world with a new camera. Photo Galleries include "Beginnings", "Existential Tranquility", "Butterflies" and much more...

Powerful...a visual feast! HUGS!! --c. graham, portland, or

original, original, original! --j. landeau, juneau, ak

some of the most "Stunning" imagery i've ever seen! Thank you Katharena! --g. simmons, kauai, hi

© Photographer: Katharena Eiermann | Agency: Dreamstime.com