The Cambridge Companion to Harold Pinter

Harold Pinter was one of the world's leading and most controversial writers, and his impact and influence continues to grow. This Companion examines the wide range of Pinter's work - his writing for theatre, radio, television and screen, and also his highly successful work as a director and actor. Substantially updated and revised, this second edition covers the many developments in Pinter's career since the publication of the first edition, including his Nobel Prize for Literature win in 2005, his appearance in Samuel Beckett's play Krapp's Last Tape and recent productions of his plays. Containing essays written by both academics and leading practitioners, the volume places Pinter's writing within the critical and theatrical context of his time and considers its reception worldwide. Including three new essays, new production photographs, five updated and revised chapters and an extended chronology, the Companion provides fresh perspectives on Pinter's work.

Chronology; Introduction PETER RABY; Part I. Text and Context: 1. Pinter, politics and postmodernism (1) AUSTIN QUIGLEY; 2. Pinter and the 1950s JOHN STOKES; 3. The sacred joke: comedy and politics in Pinter's early plays FRANCESCA COPPA; 4. Tales of the city: some places and voices in Pinter's plays PETER RABY; 5. Pinter and twentieth-century drama RONALD KNOWLES; 6. Harold Pinter, screenwriter: an overview STEVEN H. GALE; 7. Speaking out: Harold Pinter and freedom of expression MARY LUCKHURST; Part II. Pinter and Performance: 8. Body language in Pinter's plays RICHARD ALLEN CAVE; 9. Harold Pinter as director MICHAEL PENNINGTON; 10. Directing the plays of Harold Pinter PETER HALL; 11. Pinter in Russia CHARLES EVANS; 12. Pinter and Ireland ANTHONY ROCHE; 13. Pinter's late tapes JOHN STOKES; Part III. Reactions to Pinter: 14. Pinter's sexual politics DREW MILNE; 15. Pinter and the critics YAEL ZARHY-levo; 16. Pinter as celebrity HARRY DERBYSHIRE; 17. Pinter, politics and postmodernism (2) MIREIA ARAGAY; 18. The Pinter paradigm: Pinter's influence on contemporary playwriting STEVE WATERS; 19. Afterword: Harold Pinter and cricket JOHN FOWLES.

This updated Companion covers all developments in the successful career of Harold Pinter since the publication of the first edition, including his 2005 Nobel Prize win and his appearance in Beckett's play Krapp's Last Tape. Substantially updated, the volume contains new chapters and production photographs, and an extended chronology.

Peter Raby is Vice Principal of Homerton College, Cambridge.