The Complete Writings of Henry James on Art and Drama: Volume 2, Drama

Book excerpt: Henry James's experience of drama began in the New York theatres of his 1850s childhood; in Europe he became familiar with the London theatre and the Théâtre-Français in Paris. He went on to experiment continuously with the 'scenic art' in his fiction, and to write plays himself. This complete collection of James's essays and reviews on drama discusses a range of theatre, including productions of Shakespeare, Tennyson, 'well-made' French plays and early performances of Ibsen. In addition, he characterises some of the great performers of the day, including Irving, Terry, Kemble, Ristori, Coquelin and Salvini. Readers will find James's texts as they first appeared, with a wealth of editorial support, which evokes the colourful world of late Victorian theatre. Many of the items included have not previously been available in a scholarly edition. The editorial apparatus includes a general introduction, a chronology, a textual variants section, and a biographical guide to actors.