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The Madras House: A Comedy, in Four Acts
Paperback
ISBN13: 9781025355719
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 152
Weight: 0.49
Height: 0.33 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The Madras House is a sophisticated four-act comedy by the influential playwright and director Harley Granville Barker. Set in the waning years of the Edwardian era, the play offers a sharp-witted and intellectual exploration of the shifting social and economic landscape of the early 20th century. The narrative centers on the Huxtable family and their connection to the eponymous high-fashion department store, using this commercial setting to dissect the rigid values of the burgeoning middle class.
Through a series of incisive dialogues and character studies, Barker examines the restrictive roles imposed upon women-ranging from the sheltered, aimless lives of the six unmarried Huxtable daughters to the commercial exploitation of fashion models. The play delves into complex themes of marriage, feminism, and the dehumanizing effects of industrial commercialism. As the characters navigate business negotiations and personal crises, The Madras House exposes the contradictions and hypocrisies of a society in transition.
Renowned for its realistic dialogue and profound social commentary, this work remains a cornerstone of British modern drama. It provides a fascinating window into the historical discourse surrounding gender and commerce, making it an essential read for enthusiasts of classic theater and Edwardian literature.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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