I saw this play many years ago when it first opened in London & was completely blown away by it (didn't hurt to have 2 fabulous actors playing the leads - Judi Dench for one). I subsequently bought the book & it reads just as well. I am only sorry that because of difficulties with Actors equity it hasn't yet been performed in New York.
The themes of love and revenge are dealt with in ways both tender and terrible. It gets you in the gut.

During the last two years I have been reading several of Peter Shaffer's plays - and I find all of them except "Shrivings" brilliant. "The Gift of the Gorgon" is a typical Shaffer work because it is a quite audacious literary and theatrical experiment; different characters from different historical epochs act simultanously on the stage - and to stunning effect. The theme Shaffer wants to discuss in his poetically exquisite language is the question of revenge: Is it right or wrong - or both? I can only say that is one of the greatest dramas I have read - a tragedy in the classical sense but highly relevant for our time - and everyone who wishes to get acquainted with one the greatest playwrights of any time should buy it - and read it!

I recently performed Black Comedy as part of a small, independant production group and believe me, it is FANTASTIC! The play is so funny, and it is chock full of little witty remarks. It has an amazingly clever premise, and is so much fun to do, we wanted to keep performing it! Shaffer is definately a master of Comedy.

Shaffer's work seems to be synonimous with mystery, impact, ritual and theatrical pyrotechnics. How strange, then, to see him in this, his first major play, to see him attempting something very close to a kitchen sink drama.

Indeed, there is a smack of Ibsenesque drawing-room realism so far removed from the 'total theatre' of Equus and Royal Hunt that some readers may find disconcerting. But, nevertheless, Shaffer's tender understanding of the emotional pressures of middle-class family life make this play just as extraordinary and gripping as any of the later, more popular successes.

The play does exhibit Shaffer's characteristic love of linguistic versatility and, as with all his plays, is extremely relevent. I for one cannot but feel moved by the characters' tender denunciation of love and sexuality.

A must for anyone wanting to find new layers to an original and penetrating writer.

Peter Shaffer hit a home run with this marvelously witty play. I saw it on Broadway before reading it and thought it was truly worthy of Maggie Smith's talent. In reading the play I have found a greater apprecition for the piece. I great tribute to comedic leading ladies!

I love this set of books. These books require students to learn not by lecture, but by doing labs and explaining their results.

These books certainly are not appropriate for high school students (the age level I teach), but they are the perfect resource for their teacher. A high school student needs very clear instructions and needs reassurance that he is on the right track. These books are not clear enough for these students.

However, as a teacher, I can adapt the material, write my own labs, and give the students something that is on their level.

I've done the electricity unit, as a student, and realized that there was quite a lot about circuitry that I don't know. I was a Physics major, but I never truly understood the material, I only thought I did. I'm looking forward to trying some of the other units and finding out what else I don't understand!

The other useful feature of these books is the cost. The labs use only very inexpensive equipment. For someone like me in a small, rural school, this is a godsend! In a few years, I hope to develop my program to the point that my students will get a good, high-level education, and low cost labs help make this possible sooner.

I enjoyed this play very much and have read it several times. Each time I read the play I grasp a better understanding of what Shaffer may be conveying to the audience. This play made me ask so many questions about society today and what some of the truths are in life.
I do not believe this play to be about materialism or convenience and the killing of our capacity for worship, passion, or pain. Alan had a capacity for worship and passion, just not within the normal boundaries of societies acceptable views. Alan had the capacity for pain, but reached his climax when in the stable and blinded the six horses. If man is materialistic it is because the opportunity presents itself and we are already that way. There is no spiritual or mental decay of modern man. Religion flourishes as it always has, and causes peace and war as it always will. We know more now than we ever did in the past about medicine, science, the arts, humanity, the origin of man, and life itself.
In the case of Alan, he suffers from mental illness, but can be healed with love and passion from those around him; Dysart being the one to take the first step and not giving up on him. Worship is not a human need, but the freedom of worship is a human right. I believe this play to hold these truths; the human need for understanding, compassion, and healing.

I've just finished reading this version of Equus for the third time now, and I never get tired of it. I've also just finished a 23 page paper on Peter Shaffer for my play analysis class, and I have to tell you, Equus is a drama that I thouroughly enjoy. It's probably my favorite play because it deals with not only the subject of the human need for worship, but Equus is also about a search for faith, for Dysart and Alan. It deals with the concepts of religion as well; and being a Christian, I could apply my own teachings to the text. The basic synopsis is an adolescent boy named Alan Strang has committed a horrible crime of blinding six horses in a stable in southern England. After being taking to the local magistrates, he's dubbed as mentally ill (which he is), and is taken to Dr. Martin Dysart, a well-known and respected psychiatrist for evaluation. What unfolds from there, is such an engrossing story into Alan's primal mind and as to why he did this act, you won't believe. Equus speaks to everyone. The conflict for Dysart, who is "utterly worshipless" vs. Alan Strang who activlely and genuinely worships his god Equus is this: I can cure Alan of his illness and make him "Normal"; but how can I do it without stripping him of his genuine worship, which is the core of his life? The story will touch you and make you think, fundamentally. If you've never seen the show, find it somewhere near you and go see it; it's meant to be seen. I had the luxury of seeing it performed at the famously known Stratford Theatre Festival last year in Canada, and it blew me away. The play is quite simply, amazing.

My GCSE (16+ exams) English coursework title - "What makes 'Equus' a powerful play?" After rattling on for 6 sides, I realised that I was never going to have enough time, energy left in my hand or ink left in my pen to complete the assignment. Everything about this play, the religion, sexual connotations and deep misunderstandings about the human mind contribute to a most disturbing atmosphere created by Schaffer, which works effectively to produce 'Equus'.

And just a note to anybody who had read the book, and something to encourage you future readers - look deeply into the names of the characters, Alan, Dora and Frank Strang. If you get out a name dictionary, you may discover something very interesting...

Shaffer illustrates an incredible conflict in Amadeus, alltogether permeated by the dark themes of jealousy, hatred, and death. Showing the apparent mutual exclusivity between intelligence and virtue, the true strength of the play lies inextricably in the character of Court Composer Salieri. It is a testement to the skill of Shaffer that I almost thought Salieri's motive as evil, but perhaps justified. In him I saw myself, striking out at God for his cruelty, for his preferential and exclusive love. Not only the writing but the stage directions are done incredibly well. Everything is as it should be, not a song at an inappropriate time, not a note misplaced. The character of Mozart is best embodied in the performance of Don Giovanni, where Shaffer describes him as "quailing" before the dark and demanding figure of his father. This is a masterpiece of pain and jealousy, timeless and impenetrable plagues of humanity.

Peter Shaffer is the master of chilling books. The first book i read of his was Equus, the play about a crazy kid who blinds a few horses and why he did it. It was a psychological mystery that was so freaky it made u not want to put it down. Ever.
Now, I've read Amadeus. The freakish level in Amadeus is not on par with Equus, but, overall, Amadeus surpasses Equus in quality. The main character of Amadeus is Court Composer Antonio Salieri. He also happens to be the villain. Salieri, as a boy always would revel and run through the fields shouting praise to God. He asked God for the ability to become a composer and, through music, bring His voice to the world. He asked that he be famous for his music. He asked that he be one of the best. God granted his wish, but, soon sent a new rival: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; a man with musical talent surpassing all his elders, but maturity of that of a 7th grader. And Salieri cannot understand why God would abandon himself, and give his voice to such a fiend as Mozart.

That's about all the info i'm going to give you about Amadeus, so in order to find out what else happens, you'll need to read it.

Bottom Line: Spend the less than [amt]. Buy this play. It's worth it.

The book shows the relationship between Salieri, God, and Mozart, the talented musician. Even though the plot is mostely invented, it shows really nicely how cruel a vow with God can be if one is so grim to get his own success. It's interesting, how this play is connected with true facts, which you only understand knowing a bit of the real history of Mozart. We really liked the play, because it's thrilling and shows some important psychological aspects. Especially the relation between Mozart and his father is quite interesting. It's worth reading it, we really do recommend this great play. Lisa

i hate this book! it should be burned at all costs

This is a very fine and enthralling play. as pure as theatre, Equus is not to be missed.....Dynamite. Rivets your attention. A simply devastating experience. a galvanizing thriller. A remarkable play.

This is the best book I've ever read. It was fantastic and very short. I would recommend it to evryone I know. It an hour of horse lovin delight.

I have found this play very exciting to read, but the getting in was a little bit difficult. But I admire the variety of the vocabulary that Shaffer made use of. He handled a couple of topics, which are very interesting: I.e. the existence of god, different cultures and their organisation, religion and a motive that goes through the whole story: The word. Shaffer encourages the reader to make his own opinion about questions like: «Is it justified to break the word if you act in consciousness and for the good of your crew?»

Pizarro's problem as an illegitimate son and his existential questions are not discussed. Something that makes this play very special is the fact that Old Martin occurs time after time and tells about his experiences and the happenings, when he had been in Peru.

In short: + Interesting play with a demanding vocabulary - Hard to get in

A great play about the slaughter of the Incas, idealism lost, compromise and corruption. Excellent characterizations. Interesting subtext covers the pitfalls of imperialism. both Incan and Spanish.

Caveat: Longman Literature version (Editor: Graham-Adriani and Series Editor Blatchford, ISBN 0-582-06014-1) should be avoided. Vital and if not merely enriching stage directions are not included in this publication/edition.

Royal Hunt Of The Sun contains three tragedies: One of destruction of the great Inca empire; the tragedy of Pizarro, who destroys something for which he has been searching all his life, and the tragedy of Martin Ruiz, whose youthful idealism is destroyed by his experience in Peru. The main theme of this play which concerns the search for religion. All through the play Shaffer contrasts the beauty and high values of the Incas and the greed and ugliness of the Spanish.

These are the books I use for my physics lab - I find them very hard/challenging to use. I think the fact that there is no set textbook to refer to makes it difficult. Some of the tutorials & homework are relatively easy and quick, while others are hard and take a long time to complete.

These books are a GREAT tool for any physics teacher! It is true that they are very challenging, and sometimes not very pleasurable for the students as they are working through the tutorials, but the reward in the end IS worth it! It is very apparent that the physics education research team at UW spent many semesters putting together these sets of tutorials. I have seen my students retain earlier concepts much better after using the tutorials. This is a must have in any college physics class.
Just a warning... these tutorials are ment to be performed in small groups, and typically need a lot of guidence from an instructor or a lab aid. In a class of 24 studnets, there should be at least 2 "instructors" or an instructor or and a helper that can guide groups through the process.