*Three Plays by Brieux* showcases the remarkable talent of Eugène Brieux, a playwright renowned for his bold exploration of social issues and human relationships. This collection features three of his most significant works, each delving into the complexities of moral dilemmas, societal expectations, and the impact of individual choices. Brieux's insightful characters and intricate plots invite readers to confront the ethical challenges of their time. The first play, *Les Avariés*, tackles the theme of moral responsibility as it follows a group of people confronted with the repercussions of their actions. Through poignant dialogue and compelling drama, Brieux examines the struggles faced by individuals seeking redemption in a world filled with hypocrisy and indifference. Next, *La Robe Rouge* addresses issues of gender and societal constraints, focusing on a woman’s fight for justice in a patriarchal society. Brieux skillfully portrays the emotional turmoil and strength of his characters, highlighting the often-unseen battles that shape their lives and choices. The play serves as a powerful commentary on the limitations imposed by society and the quest for personal freedom. Lastly, *L'Épreuve* presents a gripping narrative centered around the complexities of love, loyalty, and betrayal. Brieux deftly navigates the intricacies of human relationships, compelling audiences to reflect on the moral dilemmas faced by his characters. The play serves as a profound exploration of the interplay between personal desires and societal obligations. Readers are drawn to *Three Plays by Brieux* for its rich character development and thought-provoking themes. Brieux's works are not only entertaining but also serve as a mirror to society, challenging audiences to reconsider their own beliefs and values. This collection is an essential addition for those who appreciate drama that sparks conversation and encourages reflection on the human condition. Engaging with Brieux’s plays is a journey into the heart of societal critique, making it a must-read for theatre enthusiasts and lovers of classic literature alike.

Throughout his career as a literary critic, H. L. Mencken was intent on elevating the bold, the daring, and the innovative over the hackneyed, the trite, and the superficial, and his drama criticism exhibits this tendency to the fullest. Though known primarily as a newspaperman and commentator, Mencken also wrote several one-act plays, as well as a full-length work. In The Collected Drama of H. L. Mencken: Plays and Criticism, S. T. Joshi has assembled for the first time Mencken’s dramatic works, comprising six one-act plays and the lengthy three-act play Heliogabalus. These plays, which have never been reprinted since their original appearances in newspapers or in Mencken’s early volume A Book of Burlesques (1916), exhibit Mencken’s penchant for satire and ridicule. Several of the plays, such as In the Vestry Room and The Wedding: A Stage Direction, display Mencken’s oft-expressed cynicism about the institution of marriage. Another related play is Asepsis, a satire on exaggerated concerns about sexual health in young married couples. Other plays take aim at the cultural deficiencies of the common people, such as Death: A Philosophical Discussion, which relays the hackneyed reactions of a group of mourners over the death of a friend. Mencken’s most significant play by far is Heliogabalus, a play he co-wrote with his frequent collaborator, George Jean Nathan, in which Mencken expresses his scorn of the Christian religion. The second half of this book features a selection of Mencken’s early writings (1905–17) on drama, most of which have never been reprinted. Various essays on Shakespeare, Shaw, Synge, Strindberg, Ibsen, and others exhibit Mencken’s keenness as a literary critic and his understanding of the aesthetic possibilities of the drama. With an introduction by the editor who provides an overview of Mencken’s work as a dramatist and drama critic, this collection will be of interest to amateur and even professional drama companies, theatre historians, and of course, anyone interested in the writings of Mencken.

George Bernard Shaw's public career began in arts journalism - as an art critic, a music critic, and, most famously, a drama critic - and he continued writing on cultural and artistic matters throughout his life. His total output of essays and reviews numbers in the hundreds, dwarfing even hisprolific playwriting career. This volume of Shaw's Major Cultural Essays introduces readers to the wealth and diversity of Shaw's cultural writings from across the breadth of his professional life, beginning around 1890 and ending in 1950.Topics covered include the theatre, of course, but also music, opera, poetry, the novel, the visual arts, philosophy, censorship, and education. Major figures discussed at length in these works include Ibsen, Wagner, Nietzsche, Shakespeare, Wilde, Mozart, Beethoven, Keats, Rodin, Zola, Ruskin,Dickens, Tolstoy, and Poe, among many others. Coursing with Shavian flair and vigor, these essays showcase the author's broad aesthetic sensibilities, trace the intersection of culture and politics in Shaw's worldview, and provide a fascinating window into the vibrant cultural moment of the latenineteenth and early twentieth centuries.