First edition cover
| |
| Author | Kurt Vonnegut |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Speculative fiction • literary fiction |
| Publisher | Delacorte Press |
Publication date | 1968 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 352 pp |
| ISBN | 0-385-33350-1 |
Welcome to the Monkey House is a collection of 25 short stories written by Kurt Vonnegut, published by Delacorte in August 1968. The stories range from wartime epics to futuristic thrillers, given with satire and Vonnegut's unique edge. The stories are often intertwined and convey the same underlying messages on human nature and mid-twentieth century society.
The story "Der Arme Dolmetscher" is listed in the book's copyright notice as being included in this collection, but it was ultimately omitted, and does not appear in any edition of Welcome To The Monkey House. It does appear in Vonnegut's later collection Bagombo Snuff Box.
In 1970, Christopher Sergel adapted the collection of stories into a play, also called Welcome to the Monkey House.[3] The play was staged at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre in 2010. In 1991, a short-lived television series titled Kurt Vonnegut's Monkey House aired on the United States Showtime channel. It was based on Vonnegut's stories and hosted by Vonnegut himself.[4]
"Who Am I This Time?" was made into a 53-minute television moviein1982 starring Christopher Walken and Susan Sarandon and directed by Jonathan Demme.
The story "D.P." has been adapted to screen twice. Vonnegut co-wrote the first adaptation, "Auf Wiedersehen", which aired on October 5, 1958, as part of the Ronald Reagan-hosted television anthology series General Electric Theater. The episode starred Sammy Davis Jr. The second adaptation, "Displaced Person", aired on May 6, 1985, as part of the television anthology series American Playhouse,[5] meeting with critical success.[6] The episode was directed by Alan Bridges and starred Stan Shaw, and won an Emmy for "Outstanding Children's program" for its producers, including Barry Levinson.[7]
