Tennessee Williams's 1944 drama The Glass Menagerie, his self-described "memory play," has been considered a classic of the American Theatre since its debut. The play is Tom Wingfield's reminiscence of his youth living in a St. Louis tenement in the 1930s with his domineering mother Amanda and his handicapped sister Laura. The 1945 Broadway production was awarded The New York Drama Critic's Circle "Best American Play." Since that time, the play has gone on to be performed internationally and adapted several times to film. Its success is attributed to its autobiographical story, its poetic language, and its vivid characterizations.

Further Reading:

Leverich, Lyle. Tom: The Unknown Tennessee Williams. New York, Crown Publishers, Inc., 1995.

Parker, R. B., editor. The Glass Menagerie: A Collection of Critical Essays. New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1983.

Presley, Delma E. The Glass Menagerie: An American Memory. Boston, Twayne Publishers, 1990.

Williams, Tennessee. Memoirs. Garden City, New York, Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1975.