MACMILLAN Arthur Miller for the Twenty-First Century: Contemporary Views of His Writings and Ideas (American Literature Readings in the 21st Century)

Arthur Miller for the Twenty-First Century: Contemporary Views of His Writings and Ideas brings together both established Miller experts and emerging commentators to investigate the sources of his ongoing resonance with audiences and his place in world theatre. The collection begins by exploring Miller in the context of 20th-century American drama. Chapters discuss Miller and Eugene O’Neill, Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee, David Mamet, and Sam Shepard, as well as thematic relationships between Miller’s ideas and the explosion of significant women and African American dramatists since the 1970s. Other essays focus more directly on interpretations of Miller’s individual works, not only plays but also essays and fiction, including a discussion of Death of a Salesman in China. The volume concludes by considering Miller and current cultural issues: his work for human rights, his depiction of American ideals of masculinity, and his anticipation of contemporary posthumanism.   Review "Miller's canonical work for the theater continues to resonate in the present tense: immigration, political corruption and opportunism, the perilous pendulum of income inequality, and unscrupulous war profiteering. His plays are a continuing inspiration to today's generation of engaged playwrights who are equally committed to making the theater a potent force in the healthy conversation any vibrant democracy needs to have about itself." ―Enoch Brater, Kenneth T. Rowe Collegiate Professor of Dramatic Literature, University of Michigan, USA   “Presenting a variety of essays on his writings, this collection convincingly demonstrates Arthur Miller’s continuing importance in the history of American dramatic literature, making an excellent case for his ongoing relevance for twenty-first century readers and audiences. The contributors are thoroughly familiar with current Miller scholarship and because many of them regularly teach Miller's work, their essays will be also be especially useful in the classroom.” ―Jackson R. Bryer, Professor of English, University of Maryland, USA   “When Arthur Miller died in 2005, The Chicago Tribune cultural critic Julia Keller wrote that his work appears ‘like a brooding Stonehenge of the human spirit.’ As this rich anthology confirms, Miller’s transforming vision echoes the timeless chords of tragedy in the modern world. No modern playwright has sounded more convincingly the mythic truths that describe the human condition.” ―Terry Otten, Professor Emeritus of English, Wittenberg University, USA From the Back Cover Arthur Miller for the Twenty-First Century: Contemporary Views of His Writings and Ideas brings together both established Miller experts and emerging commentators to investigate the sources of his ongoing resonance with audiences and his place in world theatre. The collection begins by exploring Miller in the context of 20th-century American drama. Chapters discuss Miller and Eugene O’Neill, Tennessee Williams, Edward Albee, David Mamet, and Sam Shepard, as well as thematic relationships between Miller’s ideas and the explosion of significant women and African American dramatists since the 1970s. Other essays focus more directly on interpretations of Miller’s individual works, not only plays but also essays and fiction, including a discussion of Death of a Salesman in China. The volume concludes by considering Miller and current cultural issues: his work for human rights, his depiction of American ideals of masculinity, and his anticipation of contemporary posthumanism. About the Author Stephen Marino teaches at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, USA. He has long been a widely recognized Miller scholar and is the founder and editor of the Arthur Miller Journal as well as the editor of several Miller anthologies and the author of numerous articles and two books on Miller. David Palmer is president of the Arthur Miller Society. He recently edited Visions of