The Glass Menagerie

The Glass Menagerie is an autobiographical play by Tennessee Williams that explores the disintegration of a family in St. Louis during the 1930s. It launched his career and is considered a masterpiece of American drama. This revised Student Edition includes an introduction by Daniel Ciba that examines the play's realism and experimentalism and considers it through the lens of Queer Identity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 136 pages
Publication date: 24 August 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The Student Edition of The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams' first major popular success and an autobiographical play about his mother and sister, marked the beginning of this groundbreaking American playwright's illustrious and controversial career. Set in St. Louis during the 1930s depression era, the play is a poignant drama of a family's gradual disintegration, under pressure from both external and internal forces.

Methuen Drama Student Editions are meticulously annotated texts of a diverse range of plays from the modern and classic repertoires. In addition to the complete text of the play, this volume includes:

• A chronology of the play and the playwright's life and work
• An introductory discussion of the social, political, cultural, and economic context in which the play was originally conceived and created
• A succinct overview of the creation processes followed and subsequent performance history of the piece
• An analysis of, and commentary on, some of the major themes and specific issues addressed by the text
• A bibliography of suggested primary and secondary materials for further study

This revised Student Edition also features an introduction by Daniel Ciba, which delves particularly into the play as a piece of realism or experimentalism and examines the play through the lens of Queer Identity. The introduction discusses recent revivals and adaptations of the play across the world, providing valuable insights into its enduring relevance and impact.

The Glass Menagerie is a testament to Tennessee Williams' exceptional talent and his ability to capture the essence of human experience. It is a play that continues to resonate with audiences today, offering a profound exploration of family, love, and the complexities of human relationships. Whether viewed as a piece of realism or experimentalism, The Glass Menagerie remains a masterpiece of American theater that has left an indelible mark on the literary landscape.

Weight: 116g
Dimension: 198 x 129 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350108981