Product Description

This is the second volume in Christopher Bigsby’s critical history of the important American dramatists and theatrical movements in the twentieth-century. Volume 1 brought the story to 1940 and included the last plays of O’Neill. In two further volumes Dr Bigsby covers the period from 1940 onwards. In Volume 2 he steps aside from the strict chronological progression to consider at length and in detail the achievement of the three great playwrights who dominate the post-war scene and who have earned an international reputation: Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller and Edward Albee. All three brought to the Broadway Theatre (discussed separately in Volume 3) a strong degree of moral seriousness and aesthetic sensitivity. Dr Bigsby gives a full account of the early unpublished plays and the major works by each playwright, drawing on biographical detail and political background to illuminate his reading of the plays, which are illustrated by photographs of important productions.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #544348 in Books
• Published on: 1984-11-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 364 pages

Customer Reviews

Excellent overview
For anyone studying or teaching modern American drama, this book cannot be too highly recommended. In three very readable chapters Bigsby covers Williams, Albee and Arthur Miller, offering detailed analyses of all their major works. Bigsby offers what might be termed a "traditional" analysis of the writers, not especially biased towards any particular critical persuasion. His conclusions are honest and will be of use to a wide range of readers.