Politics and Theatre in Twentieth-Century Europe Imagination and Resistance

By examining four playwrights – George Bernard Shaw, Bertolt Brecht, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Eugene Ionesco – Politics and Theatre in Twentieth-Century Europe looks at how political theatre has unraveled in the modern era due to the 'art of separation,' wherein political concerns have been removed from the realm of theatre. When political theorists often discuss theatre, they do so mainly within the confines of ancient Greek playwrights, overlooking the salient and meaningful political discourse within more contemporary literature. Focusing squarely on the political elements of Shaw, Brecht, Sarte, and Ionesco, Morgan reintroduces political discourse into discussions of theatre - linking playwright to political philosopher, and their literature to the greater field of political discourse.

Margot Morgan is a Professor of Political Science at Indiana University, USA.