Arcadia
Arcadia moves back and forth between 1809 and the present at the elegant estate owned by the Coverly family. The 1809 scenes reveal a household in transition. As the Arcadian landscape is being transformed into picturesque Gothic gardens, complete with a hermitage, thirteen year-old Lady Thomasina and her tutor delve into intellectual and romantic issues. Present day scenes depict the Coverly descendants and two competing scholars who are researching a possible scandal at the estate in 1809 involving Lord Byron. This brilliant play moves smoothly between the centuries and explores the nature of truth and time, the difference between classical and romantic temperaments, and the disruptive influence of sex on our life orbits- the attraction Newton left out.
Stats for nerds
13recommend
16mentions
16people
2015–2025years
81% recommend19% neutral
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- Landscape gardening (as well as thermodynamics) plays an important part in Tom Stoppard's play Arcadia, which is excellent.
- Byron’s been a character in some fun fiction: https://the-true-tropes.fandom.com/wiki/Lord_Byron
My favorites are “The Stress of Her Regard” by Tim Powers and “The Difference Engine” (he appears only tangentially) (but still, damn, what a book).
And of course “Arcadia,” an uncommonly beautiful play by Tom Stoppard.
- Anyone wondering why this is here should read or go see a performance of Arcadia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcadia_(play)
Tom Stoppard is the greatest living American playwright. Some of his earlier stuff can be a tad impenetrable, but Arcadia is why this story is here on Hacker News. It's about a girl in the 1800's who discovers the fractal equation for trees, and in theory, reality itself.
It's marvelous.
- While “Arcadia” is likely of greatest interest to HN readers of all of Tom Stoppard’s plays, I also highly recommend “Jumpers” and “The Hard Problem.”
Also worth noting the many excellent films he wrote, like “Brazil” and “Empire of the Sun.”
- I'm reminded of The Sidley Park Hermit in Tom Stoppard's beautiful "Arcadia".
- Neat!
My introduction to Tom Stoppard was stumbling upon a performance of Arcadia one evening years ago. I left the theatre completely enthralled.
