The chief originality of this volume is that for the first time it makes readily available to students some relevant documents by major modern playwrights and juxtaposes these documents with plays which have proved to be milestones in the development of the modern drama. Each play is preceded by notes or other commentary in which the dramatist throws light on his purpose, and this the reader may use as a touchstone in evaluating the aim, method, and achievement of the play. The plays themselves have been chosen as representative of the major tempers and trends of modern drama, each being an example of an innova tion which has shown staying power and has exerted in?uence over the years. The major considerations behind the selection of plays were the following: (1) intrinsic worth as dramatic literature; (2) originality and priority in time; (3) representative quality; and (4) subsequent in?uence or historical importance. Thus this anthology is predicated on the belief that a limited number of Significant plays exemplifying innovations in style and technique, together with well  chosen comments by their authors, provides the best introduction to the modern drama and theater. These eleven plays, without exception, are truly landmarks: even the more recent ones have established themselves in the canon of the modern drama. The plays, with accompanying documents, are presented in chronological order to constitute a Short history of the main currents of modern drama.