A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams (Penguin Modern Classics)

“A Streetcar Named Desire” is a play written by Tennessee Williams, first performed on Broadway in 1947. Set in New Orleans in the late 1940s, the play follows the story of Blanche DuBois, a fading Southern belle who moves in with her sister Stella and Stella’s husband Stanley Kowalski.

Blanche is a troubled and fragile character who struggles to adapt to her new surroundings, and her relationship with Stanley becomes increasingly fraught as the play progresses. Blanche’s past, which includes a failed marriage, financial ruin, and a history of mental illness, comes back to haunt her, and she is ultimately unable to escape her past or find happiness in her new life.

The play is notable for its themes of desire, class, and power, as well as its portrayal of the decay of the old South and the rise of the modern, industrialized world. It is also known for its vivid and memorable characters, including Blanche, Stanley, and Stella, who have become iconic figures in American drama.

“A Streetcar Named Desire” won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1948 and has since become a classic of American theater. It has been adapted for film, television, and stage numerous times, and its themes and characters continue to resonate with audiences around the world.