The Cambridge Companion to Arthur Miller

Arthur Miller is regarded as one of the most important playwrights of the twentieth century. His work is performed and studied around the world and this Companion provides an introduction to this influential dramatist. In addition to analyses of Miller’s plays, including All My Sons, Death of a Salesman, and The Crucible, his work is also placed within the context of the social and political climate of the time. The impact of the Depression, the Holocaust, and McCarthyism are explored in light of the plays, and the contributors also discuss Miller’s fiction and work in film. In the last twenty years, Miller has written a host of new plays and the Companion also examines these works, including The Ride Down Mount Morgan, The Last Yankee, and Broken Glass. The volume closes with a bibliographic essay which reviews the key studies of Miller. It also contains a detailed chronology of Miller’s work and illustrations from important productions.

• Arthur Miller is one of the most well-known and frequently performed contemporary playwrights • Miller currently in vogue with recent films of The Crucible starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder and Paul Schofield (1996, Nicholas Hytner) • The editor’s approach is scholarly yet intimate – as a good friend of Miller’s, he has been granted access to Miller’s archives and has attended numerous rehearsals • All essays newly commissioned for this Companion • Up-to-date view of Miller’s most recent work • Detailed chronology • Bibliographic essay reviews the key studies of Miller • Contains pictures of Miller in rehearsal

List of illustrations; Notes on contributors; Chronology Susan Hadicke; 1. Introduction; 2. The tradition of social drama: Miller and his forbears Brenda Murphy; 3. The early plays Christopher Bigsby; 4. All My Sons Steve Centola; 5. Death of a Salesman and the poetics of Arthur Miller Matthew C. Roudané; 6. Conscience and community in An Enemy of the People and The Crucible Thomas P. Adler; 7. A View from the Bridge Albert Wertheim; 8. The holocaust, the depression and McCarthyism: Miller in the sixties Janet N. Balakian; 9. Miller’s 1970s ‘Power’ plays William W. Demastes; 10. Miller in the eighties June Schlueter; 11. Miller in the nineties Christopher Bigsby; 12. Arthur Miller and the cinema R. Barton Palmer; 13. Arthur Miller’s fiction Malcolm Bradbury; 14. Critic, criticism, critics Stephen Barker; 15. Arthur Miller: a bibliographic essay Susan Hadicke; Index.

‘Given Miller’s importance … the appearance of this companion is likely to be considered a welcome addition to the range of general books on the playwright.’ Darryll Grantley, Theatre Research International

‘ … well-focused and incisive … thought-provoking and will be invaluable to students. Overall [this is a] welcome addition to library bookshelves.’ New Theatre Quarterly

‘Common to all essays is an obvious admiration and respect for the man and his art. Another commonality , and also delight, is the frequent quoting of Arthur Miller himself … ’ The Australia Jewish News