This book is a biography of Tennessee Williams, the outstanding American dramatist of the 20th century, written by John Lahr, a senior theater critic of The New Yorker. It presents the life story of this drama master in front of and behind the scenes in three dimensions. Williams' powerful play reshaped American theater and even the nation's sense of self. This unique, deeply researched biography paints an unforgettable portrait of Williams as a great playwright who gave voice to the repressed, the reviled, and the anxious. In this process, the author accurately grasps the balance between quotation and interpretation, sympathy and criticism. This book vividly depicts Williams' love and hate, passion and sorrow. It also provides in-depth analysis of his plays such as "A Streetcar Named Desire", "The Glass Menagerie" and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", and explores the ways in which these plays can be translated into reality. The difficult process of getting on stage and screen. This book also contains more than 70 rare photos, vividly showing the wonderful dramatic world of the United States in the 20th century.
本书是《纽约客》资深剧评人约翰·拉尔为二十世纪美国杰出戏剧家田纳西·威廉斯所著传记，立体呈现了这位戏剧大师台前幕后的人生故事。威廉斯震撼人心的剧作重塑了美国戏剧，甚至这个国家的自我意识。这本独到、深刻的研究传记以富有洞察力的细腻笔触刻画了令人难以忘怀的威廉斯形象——为受压抑、遭唾弃、焦虑不安之人发声的伟大剧作家。在此过程中，作者恰到好处地把握了引述与阐释、同情与批评之间的分寸。这本书生动描绘了威廉斯的爱与恨、激情与哀愁，还深入剖析了他的《欲望号街车》《玻璃动物园》《热铁皮屋顶上的猫》等剧，挖掘了将这些戏剧搬上舞台与银幕的艰难过程。本书还收入七十余幅珍贵照片，生动展现了二十世纪美国精彩纷呈的戏剧世界。
本书是《纽约客》资深剧评人约翰·拉尔为二十世纪美国杰出戏剧家田纳西·威廉斯所著传记，立体呈现了这位戏剧大师台前幕后的人生故事。威廉斯震撼人心的剧作重塑了美国戏剧，甚至这个国家的自我意识。这本独到、深刻的研究传记以富有洞察力的细腻笔触刻画了令人难以忘怀的威廉斯形象——为受压抑、遭唾弃、焦虑不安之人发声的伟大剧作家。在此过程中，作者恰到好处地把握了引述与阐释、同情与批评之间的分寸。这本书生动描绘了威廉斯的爱与恨、激情与哀愁，还深入剖析了他的《欲望号街车》《玻璃动物园》《热铁皮屋顶上的猫》等剧，挖掘了将这些戏剧搬上舞台与银幕的艰难过程。本书还收入七十余幅珍贵照片，生动展现了二十世纪美国精彩纷呈的戏剧世界。
