To Be or Not to Be (book)

To Be or Not to Be is a 1983 comedy novel by Kurt Vonnegut. It is loosely based on the 1942 Ernst Lubitsch film of the same name, and both share the same title as a famous line from William Shakespeare's Hamlet.

The novel tells the story of George and Lionel Barrymore, a married couple who are actors in a struggling theater troupe in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II. George is a pompous, self-absorbed actor, famous within the small company for his grandiose performances of Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy. Lionel, more grounded and capable, is the heart of the company. When the troupe becomes inadvertently entangled in espionage, they must use their acting skills to outwit the Nazis and save themselves and the Polish resistance.

The book is characterized by Vonnegut's signature dark humor, satire, and anti-war sentiments. It explores themes of identity, performance, the absurdity of war, and the power of storytelling. The novel satirizes not only the Nazis but also the vanity and delusions of artists. It contrasts the high-minded ideals of art with the brutal realities of war and political oppression. The "To be or not to be" soliloquy is a recurring motif throughout the novel, serving as a point of both humor and existential reflection for the characters. The book's ending provides a hopeful, albeit ambiguous, resolution.