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Palgrave Macmillan
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Six Contemporary Dramatists

Bennett, Potter, Gray, Brenton, Hare, Ayckbourn

  • Book
  • © 1996

Overview

Authors:
  1. Duncan Wu

    1. Department of English Literature, University of Glasgow, UK

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxx
    Download chapter PDF

  2. Introduction: Intangible Commodities

    • Duncan Wu
    Pages 1-15

  3. Alan Bennett: Anarchists of the Spirit

    • Duncan Wu
    Pages 17-33

  4. Dennis Potter: The Angel in Us

    • Duncan Wu
    Pages 35-63

  5. Simon Gray: Numbness of the Heart

    • Duncan Wu
    Pages 65-80

  6. Howard Brenton: Romantic Retreats

    • Duncan Wu
    Pages 81-96

  7. David Hare: A Milder Day

    • Duncan Wu
    Pages 97-116

  8. Alan Ayckbourn: Beyond Romanticism

    • Duncan Wu
    Pages 117-139

  9. Epilogue

    • Duncan Wu
    Pages 141-143

  10. Back Matter

    Pages 145-179
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Keywords

About this book

`A most illuminating study.' - John Bayley Six Contemporary Dramatists explores, in a straightforward manner, the central concerns of six of the most important contemporary dramatists. It demonstrates how the work of Alan Bennett, Dennis Potter, Simon Gray, Howard Brenton, David Hare and Alan Ayckbourn is essentially moral, and relates their aspirations to the British romantic tradition of the last century. At the same time, Duncan Wu explores how each writer has responded to the changes that took place in personal and public ethics during the 1980s as a result of Thatcherism. He also includes an interview with Alan Ayckbourn, published here for the first time, in which the volume's themes are focused and summarised. For the paperback edition, a substantial preface discussing Tom Stoppard's Arcadia, David Hare's Skylight and David Edgar's Pentecost has been added. This is an essential and readable guide to televised and theatrical drama for students and theatregoers alike.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Department of English Literature, University of Glasgow, UK

    Duncan Wu

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