The Chairs by Eugène Ionesco

"The Chairs" is a tragic farce that delves into the themes of existentialism and the absurdity of human existence. The play unfolds as an elderly couple prepares a room full of chairs for a gathering of invisible guests. They are eagerly anticipating the arrival of an orator who will deliver a message of great importance, believed to be the culmination of their life's work. As the room fills with more and more chairs for guests that never appear, the play reaches a climax with the orator's arrival, only to reveal the futility of their expectations and the inherent emptiness of communication. The couple's desperate need for validation and their ultimate failure to convey meaning reflect the human condition's search for purpose in a senseless world.

The 6980th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 48

Since this book was first published in 1952, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 48.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.