Early Plays
by Eugene O'neill

Name: Early Plays
Brand: Eugene O'neill
SKU: 9780141186702
Rating: 3.86 (37 reviews)

Early Plays Book Cover — Early Plays Cover

Highlights

American

Why we like it

"Eugene O'Neill's 'Early Plays' reveals the formative stages of his genius, presenting raw and intense explorations of human frailty and existential despair."

From: Pulitzer Prize-Winning Plays

What readers are saying

Readers appreciate Eugene O'Neill's early plays for their depth and exploration of complex themes. The collection is seen as valuable for understanding his development as a playwright, showcasing a range of works that reflect his unique style. While many praise the writing and emotional intensity, a few mention that some plays may feel obscure or odd.

Exceptional writing and themes Insight into O'Neill's development Gripping and somber narratives Some plays feel obscure or odd

Synopsis

A selection of early work—including two Pulitzer Prize-winning plays—from Eugene O'Neill, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature A Penguin Classic

Included in this volume are seven one-act plays (

The Moon of the Caribbees

, Bound East for Cardiff

, In the Zone

, The Long Voyage Home

, Ile

, Where the Cross Is Made

, and The Rope

), and five full-length plays (

Beyond the Horizon

, The Straw, Anna Christie, and the classics The Emperor Jones and The Hairy Ape

), all written between 1914 and 1921 and produced for the stage between 1916 and 1922.

The majority of these plays are heavily influenced by German expressionism—Freud, Nietzsche, Strindberg, and the radical leftist politics in which O'Neill was involved during his youth.

Also included in this unique collection is the little-known and highly autobiographical play The Straw

, which draws on O'Neill's confinement in the Gaylord Farm Sanatorium.

Themes American drama PS3529.N5 A6 2001