Susan C. W. Abbotson

The Decades of Modern American Drama series provides a comprehensive survey and study of the theatre produced in each decade from the 1930s to 2009 in eight volumes. Each volume equips readers with a detailed understanding of the context from which work emerged: an introduction considers life in the decade with a focus on domestic life and conditions, social changes, culture, media, technology, industry and political events; while a chapter on the theatre of the decade offers a wide-ranging and thorough survey of theatres, companies, dramatists, new movements and developments in response to the economic and political conditions of the day. The work of the four most prominent playwrights from the decade receives in-depth analysis and re-evaluation by a team of experts, together with commentary on their subsequent work and legacy. A final section brings together original documents such as interviews with the playwrights and with directors, drafts of play scenes, and other previously unpublished material. The major writers and their works to receive in-depth coverage in this volume include:* William Inge: Picnic (1953), Bus Stop (1955) and The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1957);* Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents and Jerome Robbins: West Side Story (1957) and Gypsy (1959); * Alice Childress: Just a Little Simple (1950), Gold Through the Trees (1952) and Trouble in Mind (1955);* Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee: Inherit the Wind (1955), Auntie Mame (1956) and The Gang's All Here (1959).

American playwrights have made enormous contributions to world drama during the last century, and their works are widely read and performed. This reference conveniently introduces 10 of the most important modern American plays read by students. An introductory essay concisely overviews modern American drama, and each of the chapters that follow examines a particular play. Among the plays discussed are Thornton Wilder's Our Town, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, and August Wilson's The Piano Lesson. Each chapter includes a biography, a plot summary, an analysis of the play's themes, characters, and dramatic art, and a review of its historical background and reception. Chapters list works for further reading, and the volume closes with a selected, general bibliography.

The uniquely thematic approach of this resource will help teachers and librarians identify pertinent works of modern drama for students, and will enhance readers' understanding of these works. Organized alphabetically around 33 themes, each chapter presents an engaging essay exploring different perspectives of the theme in three representative plays. Readers will encounter themes of historical significance such as the heritage of slavery and the Holocaust, as well as timeless themes such as betrayal and guilt, growing up, and ambition and fame. Ninety-nine plays are discussed, covering a broad range of works spanning more than a hundred years by such playwrights as George Bernard Shaw, Clifford Odets, and Henrik Ibsen, as well as more contemporary works by playwrights like David Mamet and Neil Simon. The selection of surveyed plays includes many of the canonical works most frequently assigned to students, such as Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman and Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot. Varied cultural perspectives are offered through chapters devoted to the experiences of African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Jewish Americans, and Latino Americans.^LThis resource will be helpful to librarians identifying dramatic works of related themes, and to educators developing thematic units for the classroom. Students are encouraged to compare and contrast themes in works from different playwrights and time periods. An index allows users to search for works by title or author.

Examines Arthur Miller's life, his literary heritage, and eight works from "All my Sons" to "The Ride Down Mt. Morgan," discusses literary style, points of view, and setting, and offers analyses from different critical approaches.

Studies the play in context of its time and cultural background