Maxwell Anderson

One of the most important American playwrights of the 20th century, Maxwell Anderson won a Pulitzer Prize for Both Your Houses (1933), and New York Drama Critics Circle awards for Winterset (1935) and High Tor (1936). Though he believed that poetry was the glory of drama, he also devoted himself to realism. His crowning achievement was Winterset, in which he popularized the use of blank verse in contemporary drama. During a career that spanned more than a quarter century, he wrote 33 plays, many of which were produced in European capitals and were translated into more than a dozen languages. As a comprehensive guide to Anderson's career, this reference book is an indispensable volume for anyone interested in American drama. An introductory essay discusses Anderson's life and work. The bulk of the text provides synopses and critical overviews of his plays, a feature useful to readers unacquainted with his works. Also included is cast information for major productions. Annotated bibliographies cover primary sources, as well as books, chapters, and articles about Anderson. A separate bibliography cites and annotates reviews of performances.