How to Write a Play Letters from Augier, Banville, Dennery, Dumas, Gondinet, Labiche, Legouvé, Pailleron, Sardou and Zola

In a delightfully self‑aware tone, this guide turns the usual promise of a step‑by‑step handbook on its head. The author argues that true genius—whether Shakespeare, Michelangelo or Beethoven—never left a recipe, and that any attempt to codify the art of drama ends up more amusing than instructive. With a wry eye on the modern urge to “teach” creativity, the introduction sets the stage for a lively exploration of why play‑writing remains stubbornly elusive.

The core of the book is a collection of candid letters from celebrated dramatists, each offering wildly different counsel: “trust instinct,” “rely on genius,” “pick a theme you enjoy,” or simply “just begin at the end.” Their conflicting tips create a playful tapestry that both amuses and provokes aspiring writers, offering food for thought rather than a rigid formula. Listeners will come away with a richer sense of the craft’s mystery and a smile at the honest, often humorous, confessions of those who have wrestled with it.