Clifford Odets: Playwright-Poet

(Paperback)

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This study seeks to take a different approach to the analysis of Clifford Odets and his plays. Rather than focusing on the biographical and political factors surrounding his works, Hal Cantor makes a commitment to the playwright himself, amidst the opinions of other critics. Cantor emphasizes the richness of language and dramatic excitement of Odets' plays. He looks at the plays as a single unit. While he puts some emphasis on biographical material, the major focus of the study is on the themes, characters and language that have made Odets' plays so unique. Included is a reprint of "The Sum and Substance", the original interview with Odets conducted by the late Herman Harvey. Cantor also brings to light some of the more recent productions of Odets' plays and includes an interview he conducted with Joanne Woodward, demonstrating how Odets' work has become a major part of American theatre. This second edition contains an expanded final chapter, to add a few topics that Cantor sees as important to the life of the playwright.

Author Bio

Harold Cantor is professor emeritus and a former head of the Humanities Department at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, New York. His stories and articles have appeared in magazines, including The New Yorker and Michigan Quarterly Review. He has taught courses on drama appreciation for Edison Community College and on Sanibel Island, Florida, and Elderhostel programs for Berkshire Community College in Massachusetts. Before entering the teaching profession, Dr. Cantor was a trade book editor for Alfred A. Knopf and several paperback publishers.