No More Peace

Ernst Toller

• Publisher: Hesperides Press
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN: 9781406734775, 9781443725354
• eBook ISBN: 9781528760454
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: World History
• Index: History

This book contains the play No More Peace, written by the famous German playwright Ernst Toller. An entertaining and thoughtful comedy, this play promises to entertain and provoke the mind of the reader and constitutes a must-have for any fans of Toller's seminal work. Originally published in 1937, we are proud to republish this scarce text with a new prefatory biography of the author. Ernst Toller (1893 –1939) was a German left-wing playwright, best remembered for his expressionist plays. He was also briefly the President of the Bavarian Soviet Republic in 1919, after which time he was imprisoned for five years. This book has been elected for modern republication due to its immense literary value and in the hope that it will continue to be read and enjoyed by future generations.

NO MORE PEACE

ACT ONE

SCENE 1

Drawing-room on Olympus.

(When the Curtain rises ST. FRANCIS and NAPOLEON are seated on comfortable clouds before an open fire-place, in which the fire is the sun. In the corner at a switchboard a female ANGEL. ST. FRANCIS and NAPOLEON are playing dominoes.)

NAPOLEON.A cigarette, my dear Francis?

ST. FRANCIS.Thank you, I don’t smoke.

NAPOLEON (pouring himself out a drink).Whisky?

ST. FRANCIS.I don’t drink, thank you.

NAPOLEON. The dinner was shocking.

ST. FRANCIS.Well, you know, it’s no use asking my opinion. For very many years now, I’ve lived on manna and rain-water. A little of that every day is all I need.

ANGEL.There’s a new cook, Your Majesty.

NAPOLEON.Another Englishman, I’ll be bound. We’ve had roast beef every other day for a week. You know, the Almighty’s predilection for the English passes my comprehension.

(Faint growling of thunder.)

ST. FRANCIS (pointing upwards).Softly, my friend. A most capable nation.

NAPOLEON.Capable, but uninspired. I certainly underestimated them! (Pause.) (To ANGEL.) My dear, is there anything on the northern radio?

ANGEL.A talk by Charles Darwin on “My Earthly Mistakes: Why man is not descended from the Apes.”

NAPOLEON.I’ve heard that a hundred times already. Anything better on the Southern station?

ANGEL.The heavenly weather forecast.

NAPOLEON.Set fair. Much sunshine. Further outlook very settled. I know.

ANGEL.There’s a concert from the central transmitter—an English choir.

NAPOLEON (to ST. FRANCIS).Do you mind?

ST. FRANCIS.Not at all.

LOUD SPEAKER.The heavens are telling Jehovah’s glory;

The sounding spheres His power proclaim;

The earth, the oceans, are loud with His story;

Revere, O Man, His Awful Name.

NAPOLEON.I’m afraid it’s boring enough up here when one comes to think of it. These panegyrics are apt to get monotonous. . . .

ST. FRANCIS.We live the life of the blessed. We live in peace.

NAPOLEON.Precisely! . . . (To ANGEL.) Try something else, child.

(ANGEL manipulates switchboard; from the loudspeaker issue the strains of the “Internationale.”)

ST. FRANCIS:What a beautiful chorale!

NAPOLEON.What? The “Internationale!” Is this possible? Are the Gods going red?

ANGEL.Oh, I’m so sorry, Your Majesty! I got on to hell by mistake . . .

(She switches off.)

ST. FRANCIS.Nevertheless, I found the music very sweet.

NAPOLEON.Have you seen the papers?

ST. FRANCIS.I never read the papers.

NAPOLEON (to ANGEL).Have the European evening papers come?

ANGEL.Yes, Your Majesty.

NAPOLEON.What’s happening in Paris?

ANGEL.The Government has been overthrown.

NAPOLEON.Most unusual! Anything about me?

ANGEL.Your Majesty’s name is not mentioned.

NAPOLEON.Hm! The Parisians always were an ungrateful lot!

ST. FRANCIS.You must not forget you have been dead more than a hundred years.

NAPOLEON.What are a hundred years? . . . (To ANGEL.) And London?

ANGEL.England is threatened.

NAPOLEON.Who by? America? Germany? Japan?

ANGEL.No—All India. M.C.C. are all out for 17.

NAPOLEON.I’m avenged at last! This is worse for them than if I had conquered India myself. What about Berlin?

ANGEL.The German Government desires nothing so much as peace.

NAPOLEON.Uh! How are the armament shares?

ANGEL.United...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half title
• Title
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Characters
• Contents
• Author’s Note to Producers
• Act One
• Act Two