Riders to the Sea

By John Millington Synge

'Riders to the Sea' (1904), is a classic one-act tragedy by famed Irish playwright J.M. Synge. Maurya, a widower of the Aran Islands who has lost her husband and five sons to the sea, is alarmed when she learns that her brother's body has also washed up on the beaches of Donegal. Convinced that tragedy will befall her still, Maurya pleads with her only living son, Bartley, to not brave the tempestuous waters to journey to County Galway for business. When he does not listen, Maurya must only wait to see if her predictions will come true: that by night's fall she will have no sons left... A heart-breaking drama that captures the beautiful lyricism of the Irish, 'Riders to the Sea' conveys colossal emotion in such a minute play. With riveting dialogue throughout, Synge explores the hopelessness of humanity in the face of nature. The futility of human life in 'Riders to the Sea' is echoed in other classic Irish plays like Samuel Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot' (1953). With the timeless universality of its message, 'Riders of the Sea' is sure to find a home with modern audiences looking to experience one of the most profound tragedies of the 20th century.-

• Language: English
• Publisher: SAGA Egmont
• Release date: Dec 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9788728187838

John Millington Synge

John Millington Synge (1871-1909) was an Irish playwright, poet, and author. Known for his depiction of Irish people and their struggles, Synge was a key figure in the Irish Literary Revival, and was also of prominent influence in the folklore genre. Synge suffered from poor health for most of his life, tragically succumbing to his illnesses just before his thirty-eighth birthday.

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John Millington Synge

Riders to the Sea

SAGA Egmont

Riders to the Sea

Cover image: Shutterstock

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ISBN: 9788728187838

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INTRODUCTION

It must have been on Synge’s second visit to the Aran Islands that he had the experience out of which was wrought what many believe to be his greatest play. The scene of Riders to the Sea is laid in a cottage on Inishmaan, the middle and most interesting island of the Aran group. While Synge was on Inishmaan, the story came to him of a man whose body had been washed up on the far away coast of Donegal, and who, by reason of certain peculiarities of dress, was suspected to be from the island. In due course, he was recognised as a native of Inishmaan, in exactly the manner described in the play, and perhaps one of the most poignantly vivid passages in