INTRODUCTION BIOGRAPHY WORKS Dramatic Essays & Criticism Fiction Poetry CRITICAL WORKS LINKS ABOUT THE SITE

An Irish Faustus: a Morality in Nine Scenes First Published: London, Faber & Faber, Ltd., 1963 (First UK Edition) Also Published: E. P. Dutton & Company, 1964 (First US Edition) DRAMATIS PERSONAE Princess Margaret, niece of Queen Katherine Dr. Faustus Queen Katherine Martin, a pardoner Bubo, his assistant A Young Woman Paul, Faustus' servant-apprentice Mephisto Anselm, the chaplin Matthew, a hermit Ghosts appearing to Faustus, servants, doctors, a nurse, a hangman and his assistant Durrell's take on the classic story of Doctor Faustus is perhaps the most sympathetic and amusing version written, certainly since Marlowe's in the 16th century. Margaret is a student of Faustus' who is being blackmailed by her aunt, the Queen Katherine, into stealing texts and a ring made of the philospher's stone ("philosopher's gold", "philosopher's metal"), which would convey great powers to her, from the alchemist. Her goal of resurrecting her dead husband is to be thwarted by Faustus, who is berated by Mephisto for having neither the courage to utilise the ring for himself or to try and destroy it. This is an entertaining, clever play, and certainly worth the time and effort which it might require to find it.