Old West in the Old World

Since the focus of American melodrama has mostly been on contributions from Eastern urban centers, it’s a pleasure to see Lawrence I. Berkove and Gary Scharnhorst turn the spotlight to the neglected contributions of playwrights from the Old West. The editors highlight the little known dramatic works of authors Bret Harte and Sam Davis, which stand as enjoyable specimens of dramatic literature. The editors, however, neglect to discuss the importance of spectacle in early American drama (wond