'Anthony Roche's Brian Friel: Theatre and Politics both heightens our appreciation of Friel's genius and, through its lucid prose and brilliant analyses of the plays, reveals that Friel has been fortunate in the masterful critics who have been drawn to his work.' -Richard Rankin Russell, Modern Drama 'Tony Roche has contributed so much to contemporary understanding of ... Read moreIrish drama and theatre, and this volume adds substantially to these contributions. For scholars of Irish letters, reading Brian Friel: Theatre and Politics will become both an immense pleasure and a necessity.' - Stephen Watt, Professor of English and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education, Indiana University, USA 'Rare among contemporary academics, Roche's writing is as readable as it is incisive...For years to come, this remarkable study by Anthony Roche will be a must for any producer, director, dramaturg, teacher or lover of Irish theater who would truly understand and honor Friel's genius.' - James W. Flannery, Irish America 'Anthony Roche has impeccable credentials as a critic of contemporary Irish theatre and of Brian Friel's work in particular This is a book crammed with information, much of it new and intriguing.' Christina Hunt Mahoney, Irish Times 'Roche's frequent and skillful analysis of direction, casting and setting will be refreshing reading for many, and in this respect the book is nothing less than groundbreaking this is a carefully argued, insightful, and theoretically informed book ' - Scott Boltwood, Irish University Review 'Anthony Roche's new study provides both an introduction to the author he rightly terms "Ireland's leading contemporary playwright," and a nuanced examination that will expand the understandings of readers and theatergoers already familiar with Friel...Anyone interested in Irish drama will be tremendously grateful for Bryan Friel: Theatre and Politics.' - Helen Lojek, New Hibernia Review Show Less