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Beggar on Horseback
Hardcover
ISBN13: 9781025295015
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 244
Weight: 1.14
Height: 0.56 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Beggar on Horseback is a seminal work of American satirical drama, crafted by the celebrated playwriting duo George S. Kaufman and Marc Connelly. This expressionistic comedy explores the tension between artistic integrity and the relentless demands of commercialism. The story follows Neil McRae, a gifted but impoverished composer who finds himself at a crossroads: should he pursue his musical passion or marry into a wealthy, business-minded family to secure his financial future?
The play is renowned for its innovative use of a dream sequence, which transforms the mundane world of corporate bureaucracy into a surreal and stifling nightmare. Through sharp wit and bold theatricality, Beggar on Horseback critiques the soul-crushing conformity of the Jazz Age's industrial machine. As Neil navigates a landscape of efficiency experts and repetitive social rituals, the work serves as a powerful commentary on the preservation of the creative spirit in a materialistic society.
Regarded as a milestone in 20th-century theatre, this play remains a vital example of American expressionism. Its blend of biting humor and visionary staging continues to resonate with audiences interested in the enduring conflict between the individual and the corporate world.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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