In "Beaumarchais and the Theatre, William D. Howarth recounts the colorful and remarkable life of Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais (1732-1799), author of "Le Mariage de Figaro. Framing the life of Beaumarchais within the broad historical context of pre-revolutionary France, Howarth considers the momentous events of the mid-to-late eighteenth century which shaped both political and theatrical history.
"Beaumarchais and the Theatre includes analyses of Beaumarchais' plays which discuss their critical receptions, their influence on contemporary drama and their legacy. In addition, Howarth provides analyses of sketches and fragments only recently re-discovered, as well as a discussion of the operatic adaptations of "Le Marriage de Figaro and "Le Barbier de Seville by Mozart and Rossini respectively.
"Beaumarchais and the Theatre is acomprehensive, authoritative study of one of the most significant playwrights to emerge from eighteenth-century France. It will prove an invaluable contribution to the field of theater history.

William D. Howarth is Emeritus Professor of French at Bristol University and Honorary Professor of French at the University of Warwick. He has written widely on the subject of French drama, and previous publications include Life and Letters in France: The Seventeenth Century, Sublime and Grotesque: A Study of French Romantic Drama, Molière: A Playwright and his Audience and, as editor, Comic Drama: The European Heritage.

Introduction; Part I The Making of a Dramatist; Chapter 1 Watchmaker, Musician, Courtier; Chapter 2 Pamphleteer and Public Figure; Chapter 3 Diplomat and Secret Agent; Chapter 4 Beaumarchais and the Revolution; Part II The Context of a Career; Chapter 5 Theatres and Theatregoing in the Ancien Régime; Chapter 6 Dramatic Writing in the Eighteenth Century; Chapter 7 The Theatre and Authority in the Eighteenth Century; Part III The Plays; Chapter 8 Beaumarchais and the Parades; Chapter 9 Other Fragments; Chapter 10 Eugénie; Chapter 11 Les Deux Amis; Chapter 12 Le Barbier de Séville; Chapter 13 Le Mariage De Figaro; Chapter 14 Tarare; Chapter 15 La Mère Coupable; Conclusion;