The Theatre of Sam Shepard

This comprehensive analysis traces Sam Shepard’s career from his experimental one-act plays of the 1960s to the 1994 play Simpatico. Curse of the Starving Class, Buried Child, True West, Fool for Love and A Lie of the Mind are all examined in depth. Concentrating on his playwriting, this book charts Shepard’s various developments and shifts of direction, and the changing contexts in which his work appeared. Engaging, informative, and insightful, The Theatre of Sam Shepard is the definitive source on the works of this innovative and original writer.

• First in-depth critical exploration and historicisation of the development of Shepard’s work throughout his career • Combines close reading of the play texts with discussion of their impact in performance, and detailed contextualisation • Accessible to general public as well as scholars and students

Preface; Introduction: states of crisis; 1. Working out: the early plays, 1964–7; 2. Kicking out: rock and ruin, 1967–72; 3. Sorting out: an English interlude, 1971–4; 4. Nightmares of the nation: improvizations and collaborations, 1976–9; 5. Strychnine in the gut: Curse of the Starving Class (1977) and Buried Child (1978); 6. The real thing: True West (1980) and Fool for Love (1983); 7. Fire in the snow: two movies and A Lie of the Mind, 1984–88; 8. Victory and loss: the nation in the ‘90s; Afterword; Chronology.

\'Bottoms … has an excellent perception of the performance side of drama, which makes his comments on Shepard\'s work even more invaluable … another strength of the book is that Bottoms locates the plays in a wide spectrum of contexts … convincing and fascinating … Bottoms\'s book is very useful for understanding this highly prolific and versatile American playwright. Its detailed readings of Shepard\'s plays make it a substantial contribution to Shepard criticism.\' American Studies