Look Back in Anger

Look Back in Anger by John Osborne, published by Faber & Faber in 2015, is a significant work in British theatre, comprising 126 pages. This edition, part of the Faber Modern Classics series, presents a play that played a pivotal role in the emergence of the ‘angry young men’ movement. The narrative centers on a love triangle involving Jimmy, an educated man from a working-class background, his upper-middle-class wife Alison, and her condescending best friend Helena, exploring themes of class struggle and personal discontent.
Readers will find that Look Back in Anger challenges the conventions of contemporary theatre, reflecting the frustrations of those disillusioned with societal norms. The play’s dark and incisive dialogue invites audiences to reconsider the notion of ‘the good life’ through the lens of its complex characters and their turbulent relationships. With its roots in drama and a focus on the realities of life, this edition serves as a vital piece of theatrical history, highlighting the tensions between different social classes and the emotional turmoil that arises from them.
Official synopsis Publisher
Look Back in Anger transformed the face of British theatre; legend has it that audiences gasped at the sight of an ironing board on a London stage. John Osborne’s play launched the ‘angry young men’ movement, writers from working or middle class background who had become disillusioned with British society, were sick of contemporary theatre’s escapism, and wanted their work to reflect life as they knew it. The play tells the story of a love triangle between Jimmy, an intelligent and educated man of working class background, his upper-middle-class wife Alison, and her superior and disdainful best-friend Helena. Jimmy hates his wife’s background, almost as much as he hates himself. Dark and savage, Look Back in Anger makes readers and audiences re-examine what was once called ‘the good life’.
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