Understanding Lillian Hellman (Understanding Contemporary American Literature) [Hardcover]

Alice Griffin (Author), Geraldine Thorsten (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 9, 1999 | Series: Understanding Contemporary American Literature

In this perceptive study of the literary career of Lillian Hellman (1905-1984), Alice Griffin and Geraldine Thorsten provide a balanced, in-depth examination of Hellman's major works. In the thirties, when Hellman's theater career began, George Jean Nathan, the dean of theater critics, suggested that although Hellman was the country's foremost playwright, she would never equal a man. Correcting the badly skewed evaluations that such bias fostered, Griffin and Thorsten give Hellman's plays fresh critical assessments as they analyze her rarely acknowledged dramatic gifts for humor, irony, satire, and strong narrative line and dialogue, as well as her concern for moral issues. They also credit Hellman's memoirs with introducing innovations in free association, elliptical time, and symbolism to the genre. Griffin and Thorsten demonstrate that Hellman's distinctive voice influenced other major playwrights--including Arthur Miller and Tennessee Williams--and inspired a younger generation of women writers.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An authoritative and concise treatment of Hellman's life and career. An indispensible guide for both scholars and students, which draws perceptively on recent scholarship in lucid, fair-minded analyses."--Carl Rollyson, author of Lillian Hellman: Her Life and Legend and Female Icons: Marilyn Monroe to Susan Sontag

"Lillian Hellman is called a melodramatic playwright and a self-serving memoirist. This book lifts the tone to a level where the breezes blow more thoughtfully, and we see that the plays are richly layered and the memoirs no more self-serving than anybody else's, and in ways less so."--Austin Pendleton, actor and director

"A concise overview of Hellman's career and major works in language and approach that is easily accessible. . . . The chapters on the memoirs are unfailingly interesting."--Theatre Research International

"Lucid, up-to-date resource on the career and writings of Lillian Hellman. . . . Clearly up to the standards already established in the Understanding Contemporary American Literature series, which offers balanced and in-depth examinations of important U.S. writers."--Choice --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

A concise introduction to one of America's preeminent playwrights and memoirists --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 184 pages
• Publisher: University of South Carolina Press (September 9, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570033021
• ISBN-13: 978-1570033025
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,589,955 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Alice Griffin 's interest in theater began at the age of four when she danced as a fairy in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," her first and last appearance on the stage. After earning her PhD. from Columbia University, she taught at Hunter and Lehman Colleges and reviewed plays in Theatre Arts Magazine and on WNYC in New York. www.theaaterpro.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Understanding Lillian Hellman, May 25, 2000

By 

lucille mcgovern (New York NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding Lillian Hellman (Understanding Contemporary American Literature) (Hardcover)

Now I understand better the works of Lillian Hellman - her plays and memoirs. The authors put the plays into the context of their times but also show how they are timely today. It really sheds light on the memoirs, great reading, and explains the book Maybe, a puzzle now made clear.