Reference Reviews

Lawrence Looks at Books

Western Drama Through the Ages: A Student Reference Guide, edited by Kimball King. 2 vols. 624p. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2007. 0-313-32934-6; 2007-10683. $175.

Western Drama Through the Ages: A Student Reference Guide This student encyclopedia moves beyond basic definitions of dramatic concepts and the identification of key works and figures. The 45 thematically arranged articles are extended essays on the development of the dramatic art form from ancient Greece to the present. The first volume is devoted to period and place, with selected discussions of the greatest periods of Western drama and the distinctive traditions of national and regional theater. The second volume introduces a variety of theater movements, dramatic genres and styles. From tragedy and musical theater to expressionism and surrealism, the intention is not an exhaustive survey but a highlighted tour of the history of drama. The topics presented are treated in a comprehensive manner with allusion to background, development, major playwrights and works, critical and popular reaction, plus selected examples of dialogue and representations of techniques and themes. Suggestions are made for further research, and the index allows the reader to pursue related topics and major figures in drama. The volumes close with an examination of the issues involved in bringing a work to the stage, from acting styles and costume design to stage direction and voice coaching. The result is a guide that will encourage the serious application of actively interested students. The set will add depth to drama collections in high school, public and undergraduate libraries.
—John R.M. Lawrence