The Tennessee Williams Encyclopedia

by Kolin, Philip C.

• ISBN13: 9780313321016
• ISBN10: 0313321019
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2004-03-30
• Publisher: Greenwood Pub Group

Summary

Tennessee Williams is synonymous with 20th-century theatre. For nearly half a century, he wrote plays that transformed stages and amazed audiences around the world. He changed the way sets are represented, characters are expressed, and ideas about sexuality and desire are conveyed. Many of his plays have been made into films, testifying to his tremendous popularity. His plays continue to be produced, and they are discussed by high school students and scholars alike. This book is a comprehensive guide to his life and career. Through roughly 160 alphabetically arranged entries, the encyclopedia identifies major figures in his life; names his characters and specifies their significance; summarizes his plays, stories, and poems; discusses his sources and publications; provides performance histories; and surveys important film adaptations. Entries are written by expert contributors and cite works for further reading, while the encyclopedia concludes with primary and secondary bibliographies.

Table of Contents

Preface

Alphabetical List of Entries

Guide to Related Topics

Chronology

Entries

Bibliography of Primary Sources

Bibliography of Secondary Sources

About the Editors and Contributors

Index