Publisher's Synopsis
Lackeys / Hlapci is considered a canonical text of Slovenian drama. Celebrated Slovenian playwright, Ivan Cankar conceived Lackeys as a political satire, albeit not a satire according to classical criteria. The play follows the tribulations of Schoolmaster Jerman, a progressive intellectual of high moral standards, trying to provoke political and economic change. In his pursuit, Jerman is confronted with political pragmatism, self-centred pretension, and abuses of power.
Written in 1910, Cankar offers an unforgiving diagnosis of his nation and raises essential questions regarding Slovenian national identity, making Lackeys a repertoire staple of several Slovenian professional theatres. Ivan Cankar, playwright, essayist, poet and political activist, is regarded as the greatest writer in the Slovenian language. His work has been compared with the work of Henrik Ibsen, Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, Franz Kafka, and James Joyce. He is considered the father of modern Slovenian theatre and has had a major influence on almost all Slovenian playwrights thereafter. His playwriting opus consists of 7 full length plays, all featuring a large cast, complex themes, and thoughtful depictions of socioeconomic and political nuances within Slovenian society. To this day, Cankar's plays are still among the most popular dramatic works in Slovenian theatres. Cankar's work is culturally specific but carries ideas that transcend place and time. His essays, poems and prose have been translated into more than 10 languages to date.
