James A. Herne
American actor and playwright known for realist dramas such as Margaret Fleming and Shore Acres; an influential figure in late 19th-century American theater.
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.
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1. Margaret Fleming
Set in a working-class household in the late 19th century, the play follows Margaret, a loyal and self-sacrificing wife whose peaceful domestic life unravels when her husband’s betrayal and irresponsibility come to light. Faced with infidelity, financial collapse, and a hidden child from his past, she becomes the moral center who exposes social hypocrisy and tests the limits of forgiveness, dignity, and maternal devotion. Its stark realism and candid treatment of sex, morality, and economic struggle challenged contemporary theatrical norms while foregrounding the heroine’s emotional resilience.