The Well of the Saints: A Comedy in Three Acts

audiobook

The Well of the Saints: A Comedy in Three Acts

by J. M. (John Millington) Synge

EN·~1 hours·5 chapters

Chapters

5 total

Scene: Some lonely mountainous district in the east of Ireland one or more centuries ago.

0:31

Persons in the Play

0:20

ACT I

32:27

ACT II

23:51

ACT III

27:03

Description

Set in a windswept, crag‑filled district of eastern Ireland centuries ago, the play opens with Martin Doul, a weather‑worn blind beggar, and his equally sightless wife Mary. Their sharp‑tongued, affectionate repartee about looks, voices and the hardships of a life spent in rain establishes a lively, earthy humor. As they shuffle among stone walls and a ruined church doorway, the audience is drawn into a world where superstition and survival intertwine.

Soon other villagers appear: Timmy the robust smith, the pretty Molly Byrne, the hopeful bride, and a wandering friar known only as the Saint. Their intersecting ambitions and jealousies swirl around the legendary Well of the Saints, a place rumored to grant sight and fortune. The first act teases rival claims and comic misunderstandings, promising a lively clash of personalities that will keep listeners both amused and curious.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~1 hours (80K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Judy Boss, and David Widger

Release date

1998-03-01

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

J. M. (John Millington) Synge

J. M. (John Millington) Synge

1871–1909

Best known for vivid plays set on Ireland’s western coast, this Irish writer helped shape the literary revival of the early 20th century. His work blends poetic language, sharp humor, and a close ear for everyday speech.

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