Too many times principles in life are overstated and oversold, as if infallible or as if principles absolutely design the essence of civilization. (Don't they?) With these four plays, the great Sartre demonstrates--sometimes masterfully and other times less so--the limits of Ideals, the roles of conventions, the blinders of conceptual designs to remind us that we are free--we are prisoners of imagination, if we must be prisoners at all, but we can decide to be free mentally at any moment. Yes, it's quite Western, romantic, secular, and abstract; this book is a remnant of a bygone era; etc. But it dares to tell the reader she or he is powerful, and mostly succeeds, which is remarkable on its own, and an empowering message regardless of era.
My favorite play was No Exit, followed by The Flies, The Respectful Prostitute, and lastly Dirty Hands, which I found too pedantic and loquacious as a story/play yet philosophically piquant, especially about party politics of the Left. The other three plays were well crafted and mesmerizing; I didn't feel I was being brow-beaten by an Existentialist but invited to reflect on human nature's machinations to auto-correct/direct--they were enlightening. Dirty Hands, however, seemed a thoughtful polemic dressed as a play--not the most overt ever (Waiting for Lefty) but overt enough to wonder about the footnotes that were missing to this essay written as a play. (Was this Sartre's answer to Plato?)
Great book! I'd read it again, mostly; I'd recommend it, definitely. In our time, a little Sartre can be the realignment we all need.
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.
Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.
View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.
Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.
Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: 
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
The chilling story of the abduction of two teenagers, their escape, and the dark secrets that, years later, bring them back to the scene of the crime. | Learn more
Frequently bought together
$13.56
Get it as soon as Monday, May 13
In Stock
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Similar items that may ship from close to you
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Videos
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
Videos for this product
0:25
Click to play video
Customer Review: Very unsatisfying cover
Nastasia Miller
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Reviews with images
Very unsatisfying cover
The quality of the book (material) is really low. Horrible cover. So far, the translation is also mot much of a good style either. Hopefully it will get better (I have only read dozen pages yet).
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2017
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2005
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2020
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2020
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2023
The quality of the book (material) is really low. Horrible cover. So far, the translation is also mot much of a good style either. Hopefully it will get better (I have only read dozen pages yet).
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
breakfast_legs
An absolute must read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2017
Bogdan Radu
Good translation of one of my favorite plays.
Reviewed in Canada on April 19, 2016