SOURCE: Morgan, A. E. “The Irish Pioneers.” In Tendencies of Modern English Drama, pp. 147-52. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1924.

In the following excerpt, Morgan discusses Martyn's major works and assesses his place in the development of modern Irish drama.

The Irish Literary Theatre was founded by Mr. Yeats in conjunction with a few other enthusiasts. From the start Mr. Edward Martyn and Lady Gregory were valuable coadjutors, and the little band of enthusiasts were soon to be strengthened by the adhesion of Mr. George Moore. Mr. George Moore's dramatic contribution was not considerable, nor was it typically Irish, but the work of both Mr. Martyn and Lady Gregory was important.

Mr. Martyn's early Tale of a Town was not an auspicious start. It is no more than a transference to Ireland of the new realistic method which was becoming prevalent in England in the last decade of...