Book Review - The Visit by Friedrich Durrenmatt

Book Review - The Visit by Friedrich Durrenmatt

In my today's edition of “Books Our Best Friend: Books to Read”, I would like to mention about a wonderful writer Friedrich Durrenmatt who was born in Switzerland. He gave many wonderful books and this is one of them.

When we talk about the most significant playwrights of our time the list will be incomplete without mentioning Friedrich Durrenmatt. At the time of the cold war we can only think of Brecht, Sartre, Camus and Beckett who were at par with Friedrich.

The Visit is another example of master piece from Friedrich Durrenmatt that has a perfect combination of horror, hilarity and vertigo. The story described in the book “The Visit” takes us to a location somewhere in Central Europe. The place is inhabited by some millionaires who are of old age and through the might of her money, she quickly turned a depressed looking area into a hip and happening town.

However, there is a hidden secret in her largesse which is soon uncovered by the locals, and what they come to know about is a murder. “The Visit” is a good example of what Friedrich Durrenmatt is famous for.

Many critics say that “The Visit” is the finest work from Friedrich Durrenmatt and because of its popularity in its origin country it was translated into English language. A translation attempt was made earlier also to stage a play, but this translation keeps the original spirit of writer intact.

The story in the book “The Visit” has a perfect combination of deeply moving tragedy, a macabre parable and a wonderful description of greed and power.