This book looks at the political and social aspects of Friel's drama, in the context of the development of modern Ireland. The plays' preoccupations are located in the framework of their internal, historical and literary time, and against the backdrop of the evolving Irish state in which they were written.

Friel's plays have consistently explored themes of nationality and community, language and communication, social ritual and ""otherness"", sketched through a series of unforgettable characters.

The seeming smallness of their lives mirrors the great movements of Irish society and history; the personal and the political are shown to be inextricably linked. ""A useful analysis and synthesis of Friel's dramatic works. . . Corbett's writing style is markedly facile and accessible, and his logic clear and simply laid out, his arguments are powerful and shed a useful light on Friel's plays. . . A solid introduction to Friel's work."" Choice