Synopsis
Fuente Ovejuna
Lope de Vega trans Laurence Boswell
Published by Nick Hern Books
The villagers of Fuente Ovejuna in rural Spain rise up against their cruel Commander, eventually killing him
Agents sent by the King and Queen set about torturing the villagers to find out who did the murder, each one gives the answer - "Fuente Ovejuna did it"
In the face of this claim to collective responsibility, the village is pardoned and placed under the direct jurisdiction of the Crown
An early example of 'people power' dating from 1619, Fuente Ovejuna has gained classic status because of its undeniably stirring story of communal courage under extreme duress
This new translation by acclaimed director Laurence Boswell is published in the popular, bargain-priced Drama Classics series, with an introduction by Spanish theatre expert William Gregory