ANDERSON Maxwell

ANDERSON, Maxwell (Anderson, Maxwell) (1888-1959), American playwright. Born December 15, 1888 in g. Atlantic (pc. Pennsylvania). He studied at the University of North Dakota and Stanford University, the latter received a master's degree. After five years as a teacher, took up journalism, in 1925 published a poetry collection, "You, dreamer" (You Who Have Dreams)

. In 1923 production of poetic tragedy Anderson "White Desert" (White Desert) has failed, . however, the play attracted the attention of the reviewer of the journal 'World' L. Stallings, . in collaboration with Anderson, who wrote a play about the war - "Price of Fame" (What Price Glory?, . 1924),
. The play was a resounding success, and colleagues in the following year presented to the public two more works for the stage, however, adopted a more restrained.

New triumph for Anderson became the play "Queen Elizabeth" (Elizabeth the Queen, 1930) about the tragic love story of Elizabeth and Essex, Lord. Four of his historical dramas - verse: "Night over Taos" (Night over Taos, 1932), "Mary of Scotland" (Mary of Scotland, 1933), "Valley Forge" (Valley Forge, 1934) and "Mask of Kings" (The Masque of Kings, 1937). Musical comedy "The Holiday Dutch settlers" (Knickerbocker Holiday, 1938) established playwright with the participation of the composer K. Weil. "Barefoot in Athens" (Barefoot in Athens, 1951) - history of the trial of Socrates. The play "Joan of Lorraine" (Joan of Lorraine, 1946) is devoted to the subject search of faith.

In the poetic drama "Accession of winter" (Winterset, 1935), the award-winning New York Drama Critics, the action takes place in our days. Award Pulitzer Prize drama in prose, "Plague on both your houses" (Both Your Houses, 1933) - a witty satire, reveals the corruption of the political circles. The award-winning theater critics in 1936 play "High Tor" (High Tor) and "Star Ship" (The Star Wagon, 1937) - a highly spectacular and funny works.

With rough naturalism of the "Price of Fame" in stark contrast to the tone of four pieces written during the Second World War: "Key Largo" (Key Largo, 1939), "Candle in the Wind" (Candle in the Wind, 1941), "The Eve of Holy Day Mark "(The Eve of St. Mark, 1942) and "Sturm" (Storm Operation, 1944).

Anderson resentful of the power that had theatrical producers and critics, determine the fate of plays and playwrights, and in 1938 he and Robert Sherwood, who joined them playwrights have created their own company - 'Pleyrayts Company'.

In 1947 Anderson published a collection of articles on the drama, entitled "Away from Broadway" (Off Broadway). Of the latter, the most successful plays of the playwright "Lost among the stars" (Lost in the Stars, . 1949), . musical drama based on a novel by A. Paton, Cry, . Loved edge "(Cry, . the Beloved Country) and dramatization of the novel U. Marcha "Bad Seed" (The Bad Seed, . 1954),
.

Anderson died in Stamford (pc. Connecticut) February 28, 1959.