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Michael Frayn
Michael Frayn is the author behind Prentice Hall Literature, a collection that brings classic and contemporary writing to readers. He's known for his work in literature, making complex texts accessible.
Copenhagen
Synopsis
In 1941, German physicist Werner Heisenberg made a controversial visit to his Danish counterpart, Niels Bohr, in Copenhagen. Old friends and colleagues, they had revolutionized atomic physics, but now found themselves on opposing sides of a world war, with the atomic bomb looming. Michael Frayn's play revisits this mysterious and disastrous meeting, bringing Heisenberg, Bohr, and Bohr's wife Margrethe together again. They seek to understand the true intentions behind Heisenberg's trip and the profound ethical dilemmas faced by scientists during wartime.
Genres
Characters
Werner HeisenbergProtagonist
Niels BohrProtagonist
Margrethe BohrSupporting
Frequently asked questions
Is Copenhagen based on a true story?
The play dramatizes a real, historically documented meeting between physicists Werner Heisenberg and Niels Bohr in 1941, during World War II. While the core event is factual, the dialogue and specific interactions are a speculative reconstruction by the author.
Has Copenhagen been adapted for film or television?
A television film adaptation of the play was produced by the BBC and PBS in 2002, featuring the original stage director Michael Blakemore and starring Daniel Craig, Stephen Rea, and Francesca Annis.
What makes Copenhagen unique among plays about science?
The play is notable for its structure, where the three characters repeatedly re-enact and re-examine their pivotal 1941 meeting from different perspectives, exploring the ambiguities of memory, motivation, and historical interpretation rather than presenting a linear narrative.