Edward Albee

Edward Albee was a distinguished American playwright known for his provocative and often unsettling portrayal of modern life. His most famous play, 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?', is a classic of American theater and earned him a Tony Award and was later adapted into an acclaimed film. Albee's work is characterized by its sharp dialogue, challenging themes, and psychological depth. He won three Pulitzer Prizes for Drama over his career, solidifying his place as one of the most important American dramatists of the 20th century.

Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?

    The play is a darkly comedic exploration of the complexities of marriage and personal disillusionment. Set over the course of a single evening, it follows an older couple, George and Martha, who, after a faculty party, invite a younger couple, Nick and Honey, to their home for late-night drinks. As the night progresses, George and Martha engage in increasingly vicious verbal battles in front of their guests, using them as pawns in their psychological warfare. The play delves into themes of reality versus illusion, as the characters' secrets and personal failures are exposed, revealing the deep-seated unhappiness and dysfunction at the heart of their relationships.

    The 3043rd Greatest Book of All Time
  2. 2. The Zoo Story

    The play is a gripping exploration of isolation, loneliness, and social disparity in modern America, told through an intense encounter between two strangers in Central Park. Jerry, a disheveled and desperate man, intrudes on the peaceful solitude of Peter, a well-to-do publisher of textbooks, and forces him into a conversation. As Jerry probes into Peter's life and shares his own disturbing narrative, the conversation spirals into a confrontation that ends in sudden violence, challenging the audience to reflect on the nature of human interaction and the invisible walls that separate people in society.

    The 10331st Greatest Book of All Time
  3. 3. A Delicate Balance

    "A Delicate Balance" is a play that explores the intricate dynamics of a suburban family whose lives are disrupted over the course of a weekend. The story centers around a middle-aged couple, their adult daughter who has returned home after her fourth marital breakup, and the couple's best friends who seek refuge in their house due to an undefined terror they've experienced. The arrival of the couple's alcoholic sister further complicates the situation. Throughout the play, themes of existential dread, the search for meaning in modern life, and the fragile nature of personal relationships are examined as the characters confront their fears, resentments, and the delicate balance between sanity and chaos in their seemingly comfortable existence.

    The 10378th Greatest Book of All Time
  4. 4. The Goat, Or Who Is Sylvia?

    The play centers on a successful middle-aged architect whose life unravels when he confesses to his family that he has fallen in love with a goat named Sylvia. This revelation shocks his wife and gay teenage son, leading to a tumultuous exploration of the limits of tolerance, societal norms, and the nature of love. As the protagonist defends his affair, the narrative delves into themes of infidelity, the breakdown of family, and the questioning of conventional morality, ultimately challenging the audience to confront the boundaries of their own acceptance.

    The 10635th Greatest Book of All Time
  5. 5. The Goat

    The play centers on a successful architect who upends his life and shocks his family and friends when he confesses to an affair that defies societal norms and expectations. As the story unfolds, the architect's revelation challenges the audience's understanding of love, fidelity, and the limits of tolerance, forcing characters and viewers alike to confront the boundaries of their own morality and the complex nature of personal relationships. The narrative delves into themes of passion, betrayal, and the often-blurry line between the acceptable and the taboo.

    The 11042nd Greatest Book of All Time