Six Characters in Search of an Author by Luigi Pirandello [Paperback]

"Six Characters in Search of an Author" by Luigi Pirandello is a groundbreaking work of modernist drama that challenges traditional notions of theatricality and reality. Originally published in 1921, this play introduces a meta-theatrical concept where six characters from an unfinished play intrude upon a rehearsal of another drama in search of an author to complete their story.

The plot unfolds as the characters, led by the Father, implore the Director and the actors to stage their tragic tale, which revolves around themes of identity, existence, and the conflict between illusion and reality. As the rehearsal progresses, the boundaries between fiction and reality blur, raising profound questions about the nature of art, truth, and the role of the artist.

Pirandello's play is renowned for its innovative narrative structure and psychological depth, exploring the existential crisis of characters who are simultaneously aware of their fictional status and desperate for their voices to be heard and their story to be told. "Six Characters in Search of an Author" remains a seminal work in the history of theater, influencing generations of playwrights and continuing to provoke thought and discussion on the nature of creativity and the complexities of human existence.