FRAGMENTE and 3.31.93.

Lars Norén generally considered Swedens greatest playwright since August Strindberg has written over 75 plays. While they are regularly per­formed in Nordic and European countries and have been translated into sev­eral languages English-language readers were deprived of his major works until 2013 when Chaucer Press Books published Two Plays: And Give Us the Shadows and Autumn and Winter followed by Three Plays: Demons Act and Terminal 3 and then by Blood and War. This volume pre­sents two of Noréns most recent major plays in English that are thematically related written after the financial collapse of 2008: FRAGMENTE is about what happened to the working class after the collapse especially how its members--composed of many immigrants hit by layoffs and uncertainty--did their best to live through their often life-threat­ening situation. 3.31.93. is about a middle class neighborhood in a big city whose citizens--fraught with angst illness and psychological problems after the financial collapse--both depend upon and avoid each other.In both plays horrific pointless crimes are committed that seemingly reflect the disconnect between people and governmental bu­reaucracies attempting desperately but in vain to be helpful and caring. What really stands out about these plays however is how they capture the charac­ters humanity and the essence of their everyday lives for better or worse.Translator Marita Lindholm Gochman was born in Sweden and came to America in 1964 where she has had a rich theatrical career. In 1985 she translated her first Norén play into English The Last Supper and has since translated 25 of his plays--making her Noréns foremost English language translator. Since 1987 Ms. Gochman who lives in Manhattan NY has served as a board member of Circle in the Square The Inter­national Theatre Insti­tute and The Signature Theatre.Lars Norén regarded by many as the greatest Swedish playwright since Strindberg has dealt with the love-hate relationships of modern dysfunctional families in emotionally powerful and sombre plays spiced with absurd humour. --Encyclopedia Britannica OnlineHe has made the present time our home and exposed the anxiety beneath the surface of the welfare state. --Per Wastberg former chairman of International PEN and editor-in-chief of Swedens largest daily newspaper