A hugely acclaimed new play based on a 15th century Bohemian story Written in the 15th century by the Bohemian humanist and writer Johannes Von Saaz, Death and the Ploughman is a tragic dialogue between Death and a recently widowed farmer. It is here dramatised by the acclaimed translator Michael West as an adversarial duel where the farmer's defence of mankind is as strong as Death's ruthless prosecution of his own cause."Quite extraordinary...This translation is an eloquent one, filled with jewelled words and edged debate, a tribute to the original author and a serious achievement by his successor" - Irish Times "Immensely personal, manifestly sceptical of received religious wisdom, and utterly fascinating, a Durer engraving given audible life" - Sunday Independent Death and the Ploughman is published to tie in with its production at the Gate Theatre, London in October 2002 Praise for Michael West's FOLEY: "a gem" (Sunday Independent); "Splendidly crafted" (Washington Post); "Simply superb" (Irish Times)

This dialogue about death from the year 1400 has no peer in early German Renaissance literature. Ernest Kirrmann presents an English translation of the German classic, as well as a preface by Alois Bernt giving an introduction to the context and significance of the work. The text is accompanied by five woodcuts reproduced from the earliest known printed version the German original.