Charles Krance RIP

The death has taken place of leading Beckett scholar Charles Krance on 28 July last at his home in Ruisse, France. A pioneer in the area of genetic scholarship in Beckett Studies, he taught at the University of Chicago from 1969 to 1994, specialising in twentieth-century French Literature (and in particular Louis-Ferdinand Céline and Beckett), before retiring to France as an Emeritus Professor. Well known for his contributions to the Journal of Beckett Studies and Samuel Beckett Today/Aujourd’hui, among many others, he published in English and in French and was founding editor of the Samuel Beckett’s Bilingual Works series of genetic editions, which had been authorized by Beckett.

Commenting on his passing, Samuel Beckett Society president Elizbeth Barry wrote: ‘I was very sorry to hear about Chuck’s death — such an important member of our community and a pivotal influence on genetic Beckett studies and manuscript culture.’ While past-President and series co-editor of the Beckett Digital Manuscript Project, Mark Nixon added: ‘Chuck was interested in all aspects of Beckett’s work, but many of us will remember him for his pioneering work on the manuscripts. Indeed, Beckett himself gave Chuck permission to lead an editorial project to publish bilingual ‘genetic’ editions. Unfortunately, only three of these editions were published, but the groundwork that Chuck laid in print was developed further by the Beckett Digital Manuscript Project. We lose a dear friend and colleague who will be sorely missed, and our sympathy goes to Chuck’s family at this time’.

Nora Masterson, widow of Beckett actor Rick Cluchey, paid tribute to Krance remembering fondly his ‘article for the Beckett Circle, “Beckett Behind Bars”, in September of 2008, in which he beautifully chronicled the prisoners’ emotional reaction to meeting Rick inside the Fortezza (Italy’s most progressive penitentiary) in Volterra, Italy. Rick was there to perform “Krapp’s Last Tape” at the Teatro Persio Flacco, to help celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the San Quentin Drama Workshop, and to workshop with the prison’s theatrical company, Compagnia della Fortezza’.

The Samuel Beckett Society sends its condolonces to his wife Florine, wider family and his many friends and colleagues.

(Thanks to Nora Masterson for the masthead photo)