The Youngest: A Comedy

By Philip Barry

"The Youngest: A Comedy" is a sharp-witted social satire by the celebrated American playwright Philip Barry. The play explores the stifling dynamics of the Winslow family, a wealthy and socially prominent clan where tradition and appearance often override personal freedom. Richard Winslow, the youngest of the siblings, finds himself marginalized and dismissed by his elder relatives, who view him as a failure for his lack of business acumen and refusal to conform to their rigid expectations. When a guest arrives at the household, Richard is encouraged to assert his independence, leading to a series of comedic and poignant confrontations.

Barry's characteristic clever dialogue and keen observation of the American upper class shine through as the play tackles themes of self-discovery, rebellion against familial constraints, and the pursuit of individual identity. As a significant work from the late 1920s theater scene, "The Youngest: A Comedy" remains a compelling example of Philip Barry's ability to blend sophisticated humor with insightful social commentary, making it a valuable piece for enthusiasts of American dramatic literature and classic theatrical comedy.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1026099757
• ISBN13: 9781026099759
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 178 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.2" x 0.4" x 6.1"