BRECHT, Bertolt

The academic focus of his student years was in philosophy and medicine. The related disciplines and skills never left him but had their expression in his writing and drama. The theatre was for him the area for arousing a sense of moral Marxist passion in his audience – in exile elsewhere in Europe during Hitler’s dominance, then in the US where he was called to give account of his beliefs by the Un-American Activities Committee, and finally in East Germany. Amongst his better known plays were Galileo, The Good Woman of Setsuan, and the Caucasian Chalk Circle.

Life

• Brief biography of Brecht

• Illustrated introduction to Brecht's life and work from Spartacus Educational
  

Writings

• Internet Archive resources on Brecht

• Guide to the works of Brecht available in English

Video

Bertolt Brecht speaks to the House Committee on Un-American Activities (2 mins)