Peter Hacks was a leading dramatist in the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). With the possible exception of Heiner Müller, Hacks has probably had a greater impact than any of his East German contemporaries with the number of his plays that have been successfully staged in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and elsewhere. He usually writes comedies in which he frequently introduces verse that is idiosyncratic, fluent, and capable of expressing deep feeling as well as wit and philosophical thought. Some of his plays are based on classical Greek and Roman history and mythology, others on biblical themes and world history. In addition to his plays, Hacks has written a considerable amount of commentary and criticism on his own work and that of others; a substantial amount of lyrical poetry; and stories and plays for children which were popular in West Germany as well as...