John Millington Synge
The Irish playwright who captured the lyrical speech and tragic world of the western Irish peasantry in a handful of extraordinary plays. The Playboy of the Western World caused riots when it premiered at the Abbey. He died of Hodgkin's disease at 37 before fully realizing his gift.
Works
- The Playboy of the Western WorldAnarchic comedy about dreamer claiming he killed a man in rural Irish village
- Riders to the SeaPoetic tragedy of widow watching her sons depart toward certain death at sea
- The Shadow of the GlenLyrical tragedy of lonely woman deceived by mysterious stranger in Irish countryside
- Deirdre of the SorrowsLegendary tragedy of lovers cursed by druid's curse across generations
- The Well of the SaintsPoetic comedy of blind couple regaining sight through miraculous well in Irish countryside