Covering the period 1879 to 1959, and taking in everything from Ibsen to Beckett, this book is volume one of a two-part comprehensive examination of the plays, dramatists, and movements that comprise modern world drama. * Contains detailed analysis of plays and playwrights, connecting themes and offering original interpretations * Includes coverage of non-English works and traditions to create a global view of modern drama * Considers the influence of modernism in art, music, literature, architecture, society, and politics on the formation of modern dramatic literature * Takes an interpretative and analytical approach to modern dramatic texts rather than focusing on production history * Includes coverage of the ways in which staging practices, design concepts, and acting styles informed the construction of the dramas