Explores the history and nature of women in British dramatic comedy

The first scholarly collection to discuss the intersection of feminism and dramatic theory

All Bessie wants is to go hiking with her father and brothers. But it's 1896, and girls don't get to hike. They can't vote either, which Bessie discovers when Susan B. Anthony comes to town to help lead the campaign for women's suffrage. Stirred into action, Bessie joins the movement and discovers that small efforts can result in small changes—and maybe even big ones. Inspired by the diary of the real-life Bessie Keith Pond, a ten-year-old girl who lived in California during the suffrage campaign, author Claire Rudolf Murphy and illustrator Stacey Schuett offer a thought-provoking introduction to the fight for women's rights. This story of hope and determination is perfect for girl-power readers!

This Companion, first published in 2000, addresses the work of women playwrights in Britain throughout the twentieth century.