Publisher's Synopsis
Heliogabalus: A Buffoonery in Three Acts is a play written by H.L. Mencken. The play is a satirical take on the life of the Roman Emperor Heliogabalus, who is portrayed as a buffoonish figure. The play is divided into three acts, each of which follows a different phase of Heliogabalus' life. In the first act, Heliogabalus is shown as a young boy who is chosen to be the emperor of Rome. In the second act, he is shown as a young man who is more interested in his own pleasure than in governing the empire. In the final act, Heliogabalus is shown as a madman who is eventually overthrown by his own people. The play is filled with Mencken's trademark wit and satire, and is a biting commentary on power, corruption, and the follies of human nature.1920. Mencken, American newspaperman, editor and critic known for his excellence in framing insults aimed at anyone and Nathan, American drama critic and editor combine their wit, cynicism, sophistication and erudition to present this play to the reading public. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
