Tom Stoppard in Context

Tom Stoppard in Context illuminates the cultural, historical, and intellectual contexts of one of the most important modern playwrights.

David Kornhaber (Edited by), James N. Loehlin (Edited by)

9781108420105, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 17 June 2021

400 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2.1 cm, 0.58 kg

'Essential.' J. Artman, Choice Connect

Tom Stoppard's work as a playwright and screenwriter has always been notable for mixing ideas with entertainment. From the early success of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead to masterpieces like Arcadia, from radio plays about modern art to the Oscar-winning screenplay for Shakespeare in Love, Stoppard has challenged and delighted audiences with the intellectual and cultural richness of his writing. Tom Stoppard in Context provides multiple perspectives on both the life and works of one of the most important modern playwrights. This collection covers biographical and historical topics, as well as the broad array of intellectual, aesthetic, and political concerns with which Stoppard has engaged. More than thirty essays on subjects ranging from science to screenwriting help illuminate Stoppard's rich body of work.

Part I. Origins: 1. Name, Family, and Identity William Baker
2. Czechoslovakia Tomáš Ka?er
3. Singapore and India Daniel Jernigan
4. England Claire Cochrane
Part II. Influences: 5. William Shakespeare James N. Loehlin
6. Russian Literature and Culture Ira Nadel
7. Oscar Wilde Benedict Alexander Feldman
8. Samuel Beckett Kersti Powell
9. Václav Havel Michael Žantovský
Part III. Ideas: 10. Philosophy David Kornhaber
11. Science William Demastes
12. Mathematics Liliane Campos
13. History and Biography Martin Middeke
14. Love and Sexuality Roberta Barker
Part IV. Aesthetics: 15. Art and Aesthetics John Fleming
16. Classicism and Romanticism Mike Vanden Heuvel
17. Modernism and the Avant-Garde Jonathan Goldman
18. Music Irene Morra
Part V. Politics: 19. Ideology John Bull
20. Communism Ramona Mosse
21. The Cold War John Elsom
22. Human Rights and Censorship Mark Hurst
23. Empire, Colonialism, and Post-Colonialism Nandi Bhatia
Part VI. Page, Stage, and Screen: 24. Postwar British Theatre Dan Rebellato
25. Acting in Stoppard Samuel West
26. Adaptations R. Darren Gobert
27. Journalism and Criticism Mark Lawson
28. Prose Writings Neil Sammells
29. Radio and Television Jamie Jesson
30. Screenwriting Brice Ezell and Rachel Joseph
31. Stoppard's Archives Eric Colleary.

Subject Areas: Human rights [JPVH], Literary reference works [DSR], Literary studies: fiction, novelists & prose writers [DSK], Literary studies: plays & playwrights [DSG], Literary studies: from c 1900 - [DSBH], Plays, playscripts [DD], Theatre studies [AN]