Every Sunday we are taking a look at the world of books. I read a lot and always want to share my opinions on what I read, so I thought it would be fun to write reviews. Today we are going to look at a play by Harold Pinter.

Betrayal (1978)

Harold Pinter

Synopsis

Harold Pinter’s Betrayal received its premiere at the National Theatre, London, in November 1978. After an initially guarded response from the critics, the work was rapidly reevaluated and won the Olivier Award for Best New Play the following year. Set in London and Venice the play has an innovative chronology that opens at the end of an affair and works its way backwards over nine years, from 1977 to 1968. It is widely considered one of the playwright’s pivotal works.

– from Waterstones

Positive Points

In 2019, this was on the West End with Tom Hiddleston, Zawe Ashton and Charlie Cox as a revival and I was lucky enough to get tickets for it. It was only until the end of the play that I understood the context and ever since then I wanted to read it to be able to approach it from a different angle. It is a short book / play but I am very glad I read it because was a lot more clearer to read the words before me then waiting for it to be played out on stage. It is a very interesting tale about cheating in a marriage.

Negative Points

It is a play so it is set out like a script.

Overall Review

This is a very good play and you can see why Harold Pinter was so renowned for his work. Even though this play is only short, it is emotional and says a lot in only a hundred and something pages. It is a play so it can be irritating to read in it’s format, but give it a chance, you won’t be disappointed.

Rating : **** 4 Stars