The book’s appeal lies in its novel premise and attention to detail. Readers opening it in hopes of a quick explanation of tragedy in drama may find it initially slow going, but they will be satisfied by Wong’s complete and thorough explanation of a new perspective from which one can view the masterworks of tragic theater. Wong concludes by challenging modern playwriting, viewing it both as a form of art and as a way that playwrights themselves take risks.
Tragedy has long been seen as essential to literature and drama, and much ink has been spilled about what makes it work; the idea of conscious risk-taking being the real source of tragic emotion feels genuinely new and exciting. Though the language is dry, dense, and highly technical—leavened only by the occasional humorous quotation—this is nonetheless an excellent compilation of arguments that will stimulate creative minds.
Takeaway: Playwrights and philosophers will completely devour this deep dive into the idea that tragedy stems from the misjudged gamble.
Great for fans of Eric Bentley, Simon Shepherd, Neil Verma.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: -
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A+
Wong's passion for his subject matter abounds: he's incredibly knowledgeable and widely read . . . Through the art of reinterpretation, Wong manages to present a bold, inventive new model of theatre through the lens of risk.
I was enticed by this thought-provoking, insightful and compelling read that, once started, was extremely engaging and impossible to put down ... This book presents fresh approaches and perspectives in relation to the teaching and writing of tragedy, and, as such, is a useful resource, particularly for theatre studies and secondary drama teachers.
“Fascinating side topics, including the invention of the concept of money and how it led to tragedies being boiled down to the price of life itself, are covered . . . Making the case for risk theory as a new definition for tragic theater, The Risk Theatre Model of Tragedy is a piquant, far-reaching study of tragedy as an art form.”
If you love literature--theater, film, novels, history, biography, opera, whatever--you need to read this extraordinary work . . . Read it--twice. You will never read another work of literature the same way. Charlie Euchner, Columbia University
The idea of 'tragedy' was wrapped in the mystique of motivations and nobility and flaws that put it out of reach for me as a playwright. This book strips away the mystique and makes the form available to me. Donald Connolly, playwright and two-time Academy Award nominee
“The author’s passion for his subject comes across in nearly every statement . . . An ambitious, thought-provoking critique of tragedy in the 21st century."
The Reader Views Literary Awards helps level the playing field for self-published authors, allowing readers to recognize many of the most creative and exciting new books in the industry. Our awards program is recognized industry-wide as one of the most respected awards programs for independent authors. For more information and to enter your book in our upcoming awards program, check out the tabs below.
Firstly, we think this Award is the only independent book award run be an independently published author. It is also the only independent book award which is not 'in it for the cash' and the only independent book award judged by schools and groups of readers who love to read, and not by anonymous so-called experts. Jurors from London and Stockholm.
THE RISK THEATRE MODEL OF TRAGEDY: GAMBLING, DRAMA, AND THE UNEXPECTED is a finalist for the Foreword Indies Book of the Year Award. Foreword Reviews, a book review journal focusing on independently published books, announced the winners of its INDIES Book of the Year Awards today. The awards recognize the best books published in 2019 from small, indie, and university presses, as well by self-published authors.
It is our great pleasure to inform you that you are a Winner in the 13th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards. Your book, The Risk Theatre Model of Tragedy: Gambling, Drama, and the Unexpected, truly embodies the excellence that this award was created to celebrate, and we salute you and your fine work.
The CIPA EVVYs is one of the longest-running book award competitions on the Indie publishing scene, running for nearly 26 years. The annual contest is sponsored by the Colorado Independent Publishers Association (CIPA), along with the CIPA Education and Literacy Foundation (ELF).
We receive submissions from independent authors, small publishers, and publishing giants such as Random House, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster, with contestants that range from the first-time, self-published author to New York Times bestsellers like J.A. Jance, James Rollins, and #1 best-selling author Daniel Silva, as well as celebrity authors like Jim Carrey (Bruce Almighty), Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek) and Henry Winkler (Happy Days).
THE RISK THEATRE MODEL OF TRAGEDY: GAMBLING, DRAMA, AND THE UNEXPECTED takes first place in the writing category in the IndieReader Discovery Awards (IRDA). With sponsors including Amazon, Reedsy, Smith Publicity and Featherlite, IndieReader created the IRDAs to give indie authors access to people who can make a difference in their book's success.
