{"product_id":"fearless-femininity-by-lynne-greeley-theatre-history","title":"Fearless Femininity by Lynne Greeley - Theatre History","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Fearless Femininity by Lynne Greeley, the book is recommended for readers who want a thoughtful historical study of how women in American theatre negotiated ideas of feminism and femininity from the 1910s to the 2010s. The bottom line: it is a well-researched, readable exploration that situates plays and theatrical artists within shifting social meanings of gender, making it valuable for students, scholars, and engaged theatre-goers seeking context rather than a polemic. The book's single biggest reason to buy is its clear framing of feminism and femininity across a full century of American theatre.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCentury-spanning focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book traces developments from the 1910s through the 2010s, providing long-term perspective on changes in theatrical representations of women.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClear definitions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Greeley defines \u003cstrong\u003efeminism\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003efemininity\u003c\/strong\u003e for the study, which helps readers understand the analytical lens used throughout.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArtistic and political balance:\u003c\/strong\u003e The text shows how playwrights and artists both embodied and disrupted contemporary notions of gender, useful for contextual analysis.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAccessible scholarship:\u003c\/strong\u003e The writing is aimed at readers beyond narrow academic audiences, so students and informed general readers can follow the arguments.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical breadth:\u003c\/strong\u003e Coverage across ten decades allows readers to see continuities and ruptures in theatrical treatment of gender.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book is best for students of theatre history, scholars of performance studies, and readers interested in the intersection of gender and the performing arts who want a structured historical analysis rather than a manifesto. It serves as a useful course text or background reading for research on American theatre and gender.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReaders seeking a how-to guide for theatrical practice, a collection of play scripts, or a polemical, single-perspective rant about feminism should look elsewhere; this is a historical and critical study that emphasizes interpretation and evidence over prescriptive instruction.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBroad chronological scope makes it valuable for comparative study across eras.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe authors explicit definitions of terms give readers a reliable analytical frame.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBalance of artistic and political discussion helps situate plays in social context.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eReaders expecting primary-source collections or play texts will find this is interpretive criticism rather than an anthology.\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFearless Femininity by Lynne Greeley\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLynne Greeley\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeriod Covered\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1910s to 2010s\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubject\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWomen in American theatre; history and criticism\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFocus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eInteractions of feminism and femininity in theatrical practice\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntended Audience\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStudents, scholars, theatre enthusiasts\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFearless Femininity is a concise, well-argued history that rewards readers who want to understand how gendered ideas shaped and were shaped by American theatre across a century. It offers strong scholarly framing and readable prose, making it good value for students and researchers who need a critical, historically grounded treatment rather than a script collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book cover plays across the entire twentieth century?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, the study explicitly spans the 1910s through the 2010s and examines changes across those decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a textbook or a literary anthology?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is a critical historical study and not a collection of primary play texts; it is suitable as course reading for history and criticism.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho will benefit most from reading it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStudents, scholars of theatre and performance studies, and engaged readers interested in gender and cultural history will find it most useful.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Lynne Greeley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48263519600859,"sku":"160497883X","price":139.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/61O3CXYUVPL._SL1360.jpg?v=1778324593","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/fearless-femininity-by-lynne-greeley-theatre-history","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}