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The Bright Island
Hardcover
ISBN13: 9781025315782
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 134
Weight: 0.81
Height: 0.38 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The Bright Island is a sharp-witted satirical play by the renowned British author Arnold Bennett. Set on the fictional Mediterranean island of Caspia, the play serves as a clever allegory for the political and social landscape of post-World War I Britain. When two British travelers find themselves shipwrecked on this remote shore, they are thrust into a society that mirrors the complexities, absurdities, and contradictions of their own homeland.
Through humor and irony, Bennett examines themes of governance, revolution, and the rigidities of social class. The inhabitants of Caspia are divided into factions that lampoon traditional political parties, allowing the author to critique the parliamentary system and the fickle nature of public opinion. As the visitors attempt to navigate the island's peculiar customs and power struggles, the play reveals the timeless follies inherent in the pursuit of power and the desire for social reform.
Expertly blending drawing-room comedy with political commentary, The Bright Island showcases Bennett's versatility as a writer and his keen eye for human behavior. This work remains a significant example of early 20th-century British drama, offering readers and performers alike a biting yet entertaining reflection on the nature of civilization and the eternal quest for a perfect society.
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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