This antiquarian volume contains J. M. Synge's 1910 play, "The Well of the Saints". It is a play in three acts that was first performed at the Abbey Theatre in 1905, four years before its author's death. It centres on Martin and Mary Doul, two blind beggars who have been convinced by their fellow townsfolk that they are attractive, when in actuality they are hideously ugly. After being cured of their blindness by a saint, they realise their mistakes and become disgusted by the sight of each other. Edmund John Millington Synge (1871 - 1909) was an Irish poet, prose writer, and playwright. He was an influential figure in the Irish Literary Revival and co-founded the Abbey Theatre. Many vintage texts such as this are increasingly hard to come by and expensive, and it is with this in mind that we are republishing this book now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition. It comes complete with a specially commissioned new biography of the author.

The Well of the Saints by Irish playwright J. M. Synge, is a three-act play first performed at the Abbey Theatre by the Irish National Theatre Society in February 1905.Any profits generated from the sale of this book will go towards the Freeriver Community project, a project designed to promote harmonious community living and well-being in the world. To learn more about the Freeriver project please visit the website - www.freerivercommunity.com

The Well of the Saints: A Comedy in Three Acts by J. M. Synge

The Well of the Saints - A Comedy in Three Acts by John. M. Synge. The Well of the Saints is a three-act play written by Irish playwright J. M. Synge, first performed at the Abbey Theatre by the Irish National Theatre Society in February 1905. It is set in the rural east of Ireland two or more centuries ago. Martin and Mary Doul are two blind beggars who have been led by the lies of the townsfolk to believe that they are beautiful when in fact they are old and ugly. A saint cures them of their blindness with water from a holy well and at first sight they are disgusted by each other. Martin goes to work for Timmy the smith and tries to seduce Timmy's betrothed, Molly, but she viciously rejects him and Timmy sends him away. Martin and Mary both lose their sight again, and when the saint returns to wed Timmy and Molly Martin refuses his offer to cure their blindness again. The saint takes offence and the townsfolk banish the couple, who head south in search of kinder neighbours. Edmund John Millington Synge (16 April 1871 – 24 March 1909) was an Irish playwright, poet, prose writer, travel writer and collector of folklore. He was a key figure in the Irish Literary Revival and was one of the co-founders of the Abbey Theatre. He is best known for his play The Playboy of the Western World, which caused riots in Dublin during its opening run at the Abbey Theatre. Although he came from an Anglo-Irish background, Synge's writings are mainly concerned with the world of the Roman Catholic peasants of rural Ireland and with what he saw as the essential paganism of their world view. Synge suffered from Hodgkin's disease, a form of cancer that was untreatable at the time. He died weeks short of his 38th birthday as he was trying to complete his last play, Deirdre of the Sorrows.