Thunderation!

By Erich Mühsam

Subjects: Folk drama

Description: "Thunderation! was Erich Muhsam's last full-length literary text before his death at the hands of the Nazis. This dual-language edition of Thunderation!/Alle Wetter! is the first English translation of any of Muhsam's literary works.". "Of the five plays that Muhsam wrote, Thunderation! (written in 1930) is the only one that was neither published nor performed during his lifetime. This humorous "folk play with song and dance" depicts a farm collective that has built a tower to control the weather. Through this invention, the farmers come to live in harmony with the cycles of nature, and their community thrives. When the provincial government learns of the weather tower, it takes steps to appropriate if for the state and establish a weather bureau to run it. The results - incessantly "beautiful" sunny weather, without rain - are disastrous for the farm economy. Moreover, the government's bullying tactics as it seizes the weather tower harm the farmers' sense of dignity as well. In the end, facing economic ruin, the farmers overcome their meekness and recapture the tower. When they regain control of the weather, they also regain control of their own lives and destinies."--BOOK JACKET.