PRETTY PENNY Aspects of Money : Dramatic Poems

PRETTY PENNY Aspects of Money: Dramatic Poems is a poetic cycle that brings to life a vivid cast of characters from diverse socio-economic backgrounds: the Benevolent Rich, the eager Small Earner, the resigned Gambler, the dignified Nouveau Poor, and more. Through dramatic monologues, the cycle reflects the impact of money on these true-to-life individuals, showing how it shapes their thoughts, emotions, and behaviour, expressed through their views, anxieties, and aspirations. These poetic monologues, which were, with the exception of the last one, written in 1989 amid the global financial crises of the 1980s and 1990s, remained shelved for over thirty years, until 2021, when they were set to music. Similarly to the edition of PRETTY PENNY Aspects of Money: Poetic Play, first published earlier this year, this 2026 edition, dedicated to the poems themselves, is an amended and enlarged version that includes the final poem written in 2024 and retains the timeless relevance and universal appeal of the original manuscript. Illuminating the tragicomic circumstances of the protagonists and blending literature, sociology, and psychology, this dramatic cycle is designed to be performed in public as well as read in private. It offers an insightful and engaging experience for readers, performers, and educators alike.