Twentieth-century English History Plays: From Shaw to Bond

Twentieth-century English History Plays: From Shaw to Bond
ISBN-10
0389207349
ISBN-13
9780389207344
Category
Drama
Pages
280
Language
English
Published
1988
Publisher
Rowman & Littlefield
Author
Niloufer Harben

Description

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.

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