My second play, The Birthday Party, I wrote in 1958 - or 1957. It was totally destroyed by the critics of the day, who called it an absolute load of rubbish.

Summary

In this quote, the playwright Harold Pinter reflects on his second play, "The Birthday Party," written in 1957 or 1958. He points out that the play was heavily criticized by contemporary reviewers, who disparagingly labeled it as nonsensical. Pinter's choice of words like "totally destroyed" and "absolute load of rubbish" indicates the extent of the negative reception. Despite the initial harsh reception, the quote showcases Pinter's resilience and highlights the subjective nature of criticism, as "The Birthday Party" went on to become recognized as one of his most influential works.

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