Twentieth-Century English History Plays: From Shaw to Bond

By Niloufer Harben

The book offers the clearest definition yet of the history play, its scope and its limits. Historical drama is an extremely popular genre among 20th-century English playwrights. Yet the sheer size and complexity of the subject has, until now, prevented critics from attempting a clear definition. Dr. Harben provides a new and original perspective, taking into account modern ideas of and attitudes to history.
The author examines the varying approaches to history taken by modern historians and playwrights, and provides a detailed analysis of the historical source material of selected plays. The study is supported with a wealth of vivid and provocative illustrations. Historical and dramatic criticism is related to theatrical interpretation and experience. This book therefore should prove valuable and interesting to the reader with a specialist interest in the field as well as to the more general reader.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0389207349
• ISBN13: 9780389207344
• Release Date: May 1988
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Length: 240 Pages