Western Drama Through the Ages: A Student Reference Guide

The West has a long and rich dramatic tradition, and its dramatic works typically reflect the social and political concerns of playwrights and spectators. This book surveys the Western dramatic tradition from Ancient Greece to modern America. Included are chapters on great eras of drama, such as the Renaissance; national theatres, such as the theatres of Latin America, Ireland, and Poland; important theatrical movements, such as musical theatre and African American drama; and influential theatre styles, such as realism, expressionism, and surrealism. Entries are written by leading authorities and cite works for further reading. Students of literature and drama will appreciate the book for its convenient overview of the Western theatrical tradition, while students of history and social studies will welcome its illumination of different cultures and traditions.

Kimball King is Professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His previous publications includeTwenty Modern British Playwrights (1977), Ten Modern Irish Playwrights (1978), andTen Modern American Playwrights (1980).