Tennesse Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire (Bloom's Guides)

Tennessee Williams's groundbreaking play set in New Orleans centers on the decline of the fragile Blanche DuBois at the hands of her ruthless brother-in-law, Stanley Kowalski.

One of the greatest American dramatists of the 20th century, Tennessee Williams is known for his sensitive characterizations, poetic yet realistic writing, ironic humor, and depiction of harsh realities in human relationships. Williams drew on his own troubled early life to depict the loneliness, fear, and sexual anxiety of such memorable characters as Blanche DuBois and Stanley Kowalski. His work is frequently included in high school and college curricula, and his plays are still produced today.