Murder in the Cathedral
Murder in the Cathedral by Thomas Stearns Eliot is a notable drama published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 1935. This first edition spans 88 pages and is presented in English. The play retells the historical events surrounding the murder of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, focusing on the circumstances that led to his assassination by the knights of Henry II in 1170.
Readers will find a work that intertwines themes of martyrdom and religious significance, reflecting the influence of Greek drama through its exploration of ritual and renewal. The narrative captures the tension between political power and spiritual integrity, offering insights into the historical and religious context of the time. This edition serves as a significant contribution to both American and European drama, showcasing Eliot’s poetic approach to storytelling.
Official synopsis Publisher
T. S. Eliot’s most famous drama, a retelling of the murder of the archbishop of Canterbury
Murder in the Cathedral, written for the Canterbury Festival in 1935, was one of T. S. Eliot’s first dramatic achievements, and it remains one of the great plays of the century. It takes as its subject matter the martyrdom of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, depicting the events that led to his assassination, in his own cathedral church, by the knights of Henry II in 1170. Like Greek drama, the play’s theme and form are rooted in religion, ritual purgation and renewal, and it was this return to the earliest sources of drama that brought poetry triumphantly back to the English stage at the time.
“The theatre is enriched by this poetic play of grave beauty and momentous decision.” –The New York Times
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