Tennessee Williams

(Paperback)

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During his long career Thomas Lanier 'Tennessee' Williams iii (26 March1911 25 February 1983) created several of the most iconic characters inAmerican theatre. Though his greatest roles were for womenWilliams alsobrought gay relationships into the spotlight his art, as so often is the case,reflecting his life. Williams mined his dysfunctional family for inspiration,particularly his sister, Rose, whose tragic mental instability influenced theplots of many of his plays. These often bordered (and sometimes plungedinto) melodrama, for he wrote with an almost operatic intensity of feeling,but the defining characteristic of his work is the poetry of his language. Inthis gripping new biography Paul Ibell discusses Williams as a poet as wellas a playwright, at the same time revealing the crises of doomed relationships,promiscuous sex, alcohol and prescription drug abuse that gave thewriter the raw material for his plays, but which ultimately destroyed him.

Reviews

A wonderfully concise and totally compelling introduction to the life and work of Americas most extraordinary playwright. * Gyles Brandreth *
a brisk and entertaining read * Modern Language Review *
Ibell gives refreshing attention to Williamss global contexts, from his travels in Italy to theater productions in Tokyo and London . . . This succinct yet comprehensive addition to the Critical Lives series is illustrated with more than 30 photographs . . . This is a sympathetic study of the playwright. Recommended * Choice *
[a] witty, intelligent, and deeply sympathetic book . . . This biography will interest people whove read previous treatments, because few of us have read them all . . . Ibells book is full of interesting details . . . And biography is in the details. Plus, the photographs are marvelous * Gay and Lesbian Review *
Provides an eminently readable compilation of significant milestones in the authors life and explores how Williamss personal evolution, particularly with regard to how he understood his sexual identity, intersects with the key themes addressed in his writing . . . as well as being of interest to a general readership, the text might serve as a useful primer for undergraduate students of drama and literature, because it surveys not only Williamss major plays but also a wide range of his lesser known dramas, short stories, novellas and screenplays, and poems. The illustrations, which feature throughout, are a bonus. Ibell presents his arguments in a highly accessible manner, and the easy flow of his prose renders this critical biography an enjoyable introduction to one of the most important canonical figures in American theatre history. * Journal of American Studies *

Author Bio

Paul Ibell writes and lectures on theatre, and he has previously been Awards Manager for the Olivier Awards. His articles have appeared in The Spectator and New Statesman, and he is the author of Theatreland: A Journey Through the Heart of Londons Theatre (Bloomsbury Continuum, 2009).