Customer Reviews
somewhat disappointing - By: Erik Norgaard, 01 Oct 2008 
This book has received many positive reviews so maybe my expectations were simply too high. I did not find this book particularly inspiring. It is focused on character building which is good, but I found it sometimes repeating itself. The analogies to natural science should be ignored.
A few plays are analysed & used to show the authors point, but if you're unfamiliar with these then the book looses some value. Certainly these are classics: Mostly he uses Ibsen's "A dolls house", but also works of Shakespeare, Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, or Sophocles' Oedipus are used.
Some sections & even chapters are written as Q&As, to me that indicates that the author has yet to think through the topic discussed & often answers simply repeat previous sections.
Woody Allen Recommended This Book - By: Will Taylor, 07 May 2008 
Woody Allen said of Lajos Egri "I still think his 'The Art of Dramatic Writing' is the most stimulating & best book on the subject ever written, & I have them alll." (Part One, 'Woody Allen - A Biography' by Eric Lax).
This is how I found out about Egri's book & were I to try to give it the full praise it deserves I'd quickly run out of superlatives.
Even if you have no intention of getting into writing I would recommend this work because of the way it will transform your understanding not only of plays, but alll narrative art forms. You will put down the book enlightened, empowered & aware of how little most other authorities in the field of writing (especiallly teachers & college professors) grasp about the fundamentals of play-, novel- & screen-writing.
For someone who wants to be a writer this work will prove invaluable. I won't go into the specifics of Egri's approach since it wouldn't be possible in the space available, but urge you to get a copy now.
Will Taylor
Quality - By: P. Carmichael, 23 Jul 2007 If you want to understand how to write drama for theatre, films or tv you will not find a better book. I'm currently reading it for the second time because it can be quite hard work at first. There have been mountains of books written on this subject but Egri's is the best despite being penned more than half a century again. A must for anyone serious about writing drama.
Invaluable advice from a genius - By: pl240596, 24 Mar 2006 I must have nearly 20 books on the subject of writing fiction. But two books stand out; this & Egri's other book - The Art Of creative Writing. They are miles ahead of anything else I've read. Buy them, read them & reread them again & again... & you will be become a better writer.
Advanced - By: , 12 Feb 2001 
Don't buy this as your first introduction to dramatic writing. But if you've read Syd Field & the others, this one will take you way beyond. It might be daunting, but it will sure open your eyes to the demands of writing good drama.
