Susan Glaspell

Susan Glaspell was an American playwright, novelist, journalist, and actress. She is best known for her play 'Trifles' and for founding the Provincetown Players, a theater company that played a significant role in the development of American drama.

Books

Ranked Books All Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. Trifles

    A Play in One Act
    Cover of 'Trifles' by Susan Glaspell

    This play is a gripping exploration of gender roles and the dynamics of power through the investigation of a rural murder. Set in the early 20th century, it follows two women who accompany their husbands, a sheriff and a neighbor, to the home of a man who has been murdered. While the men dismissively search for evidence, considering the women's concerns as mere "trifles," the women uncover crucial evidence by paying attention to domestic details overlooked by the men. Through their discoveries, the play critiques societal underestimation of women and subtly explores themes of justice and solidarity, revealing the women's empathy and understanding of the accused wife's plight, leading them to a moral dilemma.

    The 4415th Greatest Book of All Time
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  2. 2. The Morning Is Near Us

    Cover of 'The Morning Is Near Us' by Susan Glaspell

    Lydia Chippman returns from distant places to a small American community to give her two adopted children a peaceful childhood. Koula and Diego find joy and contentment, but Lydia senses a lingering, sinister unease tied to the strange love affair surrounding her mysterious mother. As she confronts conventional expectations and the past, she struggles to understand her true place in the world.

    The 15674th Greatest Book of All Time

  3. 3. The Verge

    Cover of 'The Verge' by Susan Glaspell

    "The Verge" is a play that delves into the mind and emotions of a woman who feels confined by societal expectations and the limitations placed on her gender. The protagonist, Claire Archer, is an avant-garde botanist who experiments with creating new plant species, reflecting her desire to break free from traditional roles and explore the boundaries of her own identity. As she struggles with her husband's and society's inability to understand her ambitions and need for intellectual freedom, the play examines themes of mental health, feminism, and the conflict between individual desires and societal norms. Claire's journey is a poignant exploration of the cost of nonconformity and the yearning for personal growth and recognition beyond the verge of conventional existence.

    The 16599th Greatest Book of All Time
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