Summary

Which plays are truly great, and why? Compiled in consultation with literary scholars, this fascinating reference profiles 100 of the greatest plays drawn from all cultures and periods of literature. The Drama 100 is sure to engage students and theatergoers in a spirited discussion of literary values. Each entry provides a plot summary and assessment, with an emphasis on details about the play's creation, critical reception, and contribution to literary and theatrical history. Additional features include a chronology, a list of honorable mentions ("A Second Hundred"), and an index.

Among the works selected are:

• Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot
• Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard
• Caryl Churchill's Cloud Nine
• Henrik Ibsen's A Doll’s House
• Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun
• William Shakespeare's King Lear
• Sophocles' Oedipus the King
• August Wilson's Fences
• Tang Xianzu's The Peony Pavilion
• and many more.

Specifications

Index. Appendix. Chronology.

About the Author(s)

Daniel S. Burt holds a Ph.D. from New York University and currently teaches literature at Wesleyan University's graduate liberal studies program in Middletown, CT. In addition to writing The Literary 100 and The Novel 100 for Facts On File, he is also the author of The Biography Book and What Historical Novel Do I Read Next? He was the associate dean of the college at Wesleyan University for nine years and previously served as the director of undergraduate studies at New York University.