This book provides the first comprehensive one-volume analysis of British drama from 1890 to 1990. Christopher Innes, an established scholar, traces the evolution of modernism from George Bernard Shaw through to contemporary playwrights, covering the period's most dynamic era since Shakespeare. The study examines patterns in naturalistic social drama, comedy, poetic drama, and feminist theatre, offering a coherent theoretical framework for understanding individual writers and their works. It includes detailed discussions of major dramatists, analysis of over 200 plays, and contextual information on social and political backgrounds, first productions, and critical reception.

This book is regarded as an invaluable guide for students, theatre-goers, and theatre historians due to its unparalleled breadth and unique coverage of a dynamic period in British drama. The critical study offers a coherent theoretical frame for understanding individual writers and their work, supported by detailed discussions of major dramatists and over 200 plays. Its wealth of detail, including social and political context, production facts, and critical reception, solidifies its position as a comprehensive resource. The book's wide focus and depth make it a definitive reference for the era.