I was very confused throughout (this definitely needs to be seen on stage instead of the combination of script and audioplay I was going for) and even time switches aside I didn't really understand the science (math? Physics?) discussed by the characters; but I was still very entertained which speaks to Stoppard's talent for witty dialogue. This also has the added benefit of still finding new jokes and connections upon rereading since I feel like I definitely missed half of it. The characters are complex even though some of the relationships were... questionable. But overall very fun and one of those few instances in which the play is both enjoyable to just be watched as entertainment aswell as analysed in great detail (because there is so much to talk about! Life and death, emotion and reason, enlightenment and romanticism, the library of Alexandria, entropy, the second law of physics, the meaning of life, academic validation... or you just watch it for the banter, an awesome 13 year old genius, and an academic rivalry between two scholars who pasionately argue about whether lord Byron was secretly a murderer. As I said: very entertaining)

I found this very hard to read mainly because it's a play about math. The 19th century portion also reads very quick witted beyond my capacity. I have a feeling this will make more sense on stage! Clearly a unique play and would provide a fun challenge to put on.

This made me want to write whole essays about it--loss and discovery, the tension and harmony between science and art, past and present posed like a long conversation and a Venn diagram. I don't tend to seek it out very often, but I love works that explore the poetry in mathematics.

The story was cleverly written and very funny, but the themes weren't terribly appealing to me. It's definitely one of the plays where you don't feel like you lose out much by reading rather than watching. Stoppard gives extensive direction, and half his humor is hidden there. If you've seen the play performed, I recommend taking the time to read as well.