In 'Arcadia,' Tom Stoppard weaves a compelling narrative that spans two centuries, intertwining the lives of a 19th-century English family with modern academics. At the heart of the play lies a pivotal garden at Sidley Park, where notions of order and chaos collide. As characters grapple with the mysteries of history, love, and knowledge, secrets are unearthed that challenge their understanding of time itself. Stoppard masterfully blends mathematics, literature, and philosophy, inviting readers to ponder the nature of truth and creativity. This thought-provoking exploration will leave you questioning the connections between past and present, art and science.
By Tom Stoppard
Published: 2017
"The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there."
"It is a defect of God's humor that he directs our hearts everywhere but to those who have a right to them."--Tom Stoppard, Arcadia In a large country house in Derbyshire in April 1809 sits Lady Thomasina Coverly, aged thirteen, and her tutor, Septimus Hodge. Through the window may be seen some of the "five hundred acres inclusive of lake" where Capability Brown's idealized landscape is about to give way to the Gothic style: "everything but vampires," as the garden historian Hannah Jarvis remarks to Bernard Nightingale when they stand in the same room 180 years later. Bernard has arrived to uncover the scandal which is said to have taken place when Lord Byron stayed at Sidley Park. Tom Stoppard's masterful play takes us back and forth between the centuries and explores the nature of truth and time, the difference between the Classical and the Romantic temperament, and the disruptive influence of sex on our orbits in life--"the attraction," as Hannah says, "which Newton left out."
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“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.”
Arcadia
By Tom Stoppard
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Tom Stoppard is a renowned British playwright and screenwriter, celebrated for his witty and intellectually stimulating works. He was born on July 3, 1937, in Zlin, Czechoslovakia, and moved to England in his youth. Stoppard's notable works include 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead,' 'Arcadia,' 'The Coast of Utopia,' and 'The Real Thing,' among others. His writing is characterized by an intricate blend of philosophical themes, humor, and wordplay, often exploring subjects such as identity, the nature of reality, and the complexities of human interactions. Stoppard's contributions to theatre have earned him multiple awards, including Tony Awards and an Academy Award for his screenplay for 'Shakespeare in Love.' He is acclaimed for his ability to engage audiences while challenging them to think critically about the world around them.
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