The Methuen Drama Student Edition of Twelve Angry Men is the first
critical edition of Reginald Rose's play, providing the play text
alongside commentary and notes geared towards student readers. In
New York, 1954, a man is dead and the life of another is at stake.
A 'guilty' verdict seems a foregone conclusion, but one member of
the jury has the will to probe more deeply into the evidence and
the courage to confront the ignorance and prejudice of some of his
fellow jurors. The conflict that follows is fierce and passionate,
cutting straight to the heart of the issues of civil liberties and
social justice. Ideal for the student reader, the accompanying
pedagogical notes include elements such as an author chronology;
plot summary; suggested further reading; explanatory endnotes; and
questions for further study. The introduction discusses in detail
the play's origins as a 1954 American television play, Rose's
re-working of the piece for the stage, and Lumet's 1957 film
version, identifying textual variations between these versions and
discussing later significant productions. The commentary also
situates the play in relation to the genre of courtroom drama, as a
milestone in the development of televised drama, and as an
engagement with questions of American individualism and democracy.
Together, this provides students with an edition that situates the
play in its contemporary social and dramatic contexts, while
encouraging reflection on its wider thematic implications.
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