Friedrich Schiller

Fiesco's Conspiracy at Genoa Friedrich Schiller

Publisher Marketing: Within two years of the success of his first play Die Rauber on the German stage in 1781, Schiller wrote a drama based on a rebellion in sixteenth century Italy, its title: The Conspiracy of Fiesco at Genoa. A Republican Tragedy. At the head of the conspiracy stood Gian Luigi de' Fieschi (1524-1547), Schiller's Count Fiesco, a clever, courageous and charismatic figure, an epicurean and unhesitant egoist, politically ambitious, but unsure of his aims and principles. He is one of Schiller's mysterious, protean characters who secures both our admiration and disgust. With Fiesco as tragic hero Schiller examines the complex entanglement of morality and politics in his own times that was to preoccupy him throughout his career. The play was a moderate success when performed in Mannheim in 1784; it was more popular in Berlin, where during Schiller's lifetime, it was performed many times in a version by Carl Plumicke, which however radically altered the play's meaning. There have been some noteworthy productions on the German stage and television, even if it has remained somewhat in the shadow of Schiller' other works. In the English-speaking world it is all but unknown and very seldom performed. This translation aims to remedy that oversight." Contributor Bio:  Schiller, Friedrich Friedrich Schiller (10 November 1759 - 9 May 1805) was a German philosopher, poet, historian and playwright. Joseph Charles Mellish (* 1769; 1823 in London) was a English Translator of Schiller. Contributor Bio:  Guthrie, John, Jr. John Patten ("Pat") Guthrie, AIA, is principal of John Pat Guthrie Architects, Inc. A resident of Scottsdale, Arizona, Pat has been licensed as an architect in 13 states. He is also the author of McGraw-Hill's "Cross Check: Integrating Building Systems and Working Designs" and "Interior Designer's Portable Handbook".