Robert Brustein

Revolution as Theatre

Notes on the New Radical Style

This book reflects the deep concern of a brilliant and disciplined mind confronted with the spectre of "clenched minds and clenched fists." Using his extraordinary grasp of the theatre, Rober Brustein, Dean of the Yale Drama School and prize-winning critic, examines campus turmoil, radicalism versis liberalism, the fate of the free university, and the new revolutionary life style. Brustein sees American society as profoundly decadent, and those radicals from whom creative and rational alternatives should come as being increasingly dominated by sentimentality and false emotionalism. His observations are often controversial, always timely and interesting.

"A highly controversial, extremely engrossing contribution to the current discussion of student unrest and activism in this country." —Philip Rahv

"An important book. I do not agree with certain views here expressed. . . . But agreement on particulars is not the point; Mr. Brustein is an honest, well-informed, generous-spirited, and deeply thoughtful man, and this book is invaluable for anyone who hopes to understand the present crisis in the universities and other intellectual circles." —Robert Penn Warren

"Mr. Brustein ably makes the point that, while many of the complaints of radicals are justified, democracy cannot be achieved undemocratically nor can freedom be obtained through tyranny." —Joseph Duffy, National Chairman, Americans for Democratic Action