J. Brander Matthews Books

James Brander Matthews was a pioneering American writer and educator, instrumental in establishing theater as a legitimate academic discipline. His scholarly pursuits encompassed a vast spectrum of dramatic traditions, from Shakespearean to modern realism, exploring playwrights and theatrical forms across cultures and eras. While his own creative works have largely faded from public memory, his influential theoretical writings on drama, particularly his studies of French dramatists and American literature, earned significant acclaim for their depth and rigor. Matthews passionately advocated for theater as a performance art, emphasizing its ephemeral nature and demanding a keen understanding of stagecraft.