The Essential O'Casey : a study of the twelve major plays of Sean O'Casey / by Jack Mitchell.

"A feeling for life rather than a sense of the theatre is the first thing a man must have if he wishes to become a dramatist..." -- Sean O' Casey, title verso.

"The weather, like the inhabitants, has a more accurate character, it moves in shape, more sudden contrasts ; the sky is more like an Irish woman's fac: here also rain and sunshine succeed each other suddenly and unexpectedly and there is none of the grey English boredom." -- Frederick Engels, title verso.

"All quotations from the twelve plays by Sean O'Casey are taken from the following books published by Macmillan, London :Three Plays (1967) :The Shadow of a Gunman ; Juno and the Paycock ; The Plough and the Stars -- Three Plays (1969) : The Silver Tassie ; Purple Dust ; Red Roses for Me -- Collected Plays : The Stars Turn Red (Volume II. 1952) ; Within the Gates (Volume II. 1952) ; Cock-a-doodle Dandle (Volume IV, 1951) -- The Bishop's Bonfire (1955) ; Behind the Green Curtains, Figure in the Night, The Moon Shines on Kylenamoe (1961): Behind the gren Curtains, Figures in the Night." -- from the resource.

Part one. The revolution was and was not: I. The shadow of a gunman -- II. Juno and the paycock -- III. The plough and the stars --

Part two. War and "peace": IV. The silver tassic -- V. Within the gates --

Part three. Prepare to take power: VI. The star turns red -- VII. Purple dust -- VIII. Red roses for me --

Part four. The revolution postponed: IX. Cock-a-doodle Dandy -- X. The Bishop's bonfire -- XI. Behind the green curtains -- XII. Figuro in the night.

"This book maintains that Sean O'Casey saw his plays as part of the struggle of the Irish people and of working people throughout the world for the establishment of a socialist society, creative and humanist. It is an in-depth stud by Jack Mitchell of O'Casey's twelve major plays in which he carefully documents his thesis -- interpretations that are often in contrast to those of many other critics who fail to see the underlining objectives in his plays. Mr. Mitchell does not underrate O'Casey's use of fantasy, parable, symbolism, and humour but sees them as an integral part of the deeper meaning. The twelve plays considered are: The Shadow of a Gunman, Juno and the Paycock, The Plough and the Stars, The Silver Tassie, Within the Gates, The Star Turn Red, Purple Dust, Red Roses for Me, Cock-a-doodle Dandy, The Bishop's Bonfire, Behind the Green Curtains, and Figures in the Night. For the reader who has never seen or read a Sean O' Casey play this book (with generous O'Casey quotations) will stimulate him to do one, or the other, or both. For the specialist it will add to his knowledge and give him food for thought." -- back cover.