Foreword

MODERN DRAMA VOLUME I MAY, 1958 NUMBER 1 Foreword The purpose of Modern Drama is, first of all, to stimulate interest in research and in the teaching of the drama since Ibsen. Modern Drama will provide space for those whose studies have resulted in discoveries which merit dissemination beyond the classroom. But research mayor may not lead to publication. In our day it is too often assumed that research is the handmaid of publication, whereas, as we all lmow, scholarly research may be done only in order to improve one's teach. ing. It is hoped that Modem Drama will stimulate this kind of research as well as that whose aim is eventual publication. The scope of Modern Drama is limited to the publication of articles on the drama since Ibsen, to book reviews, and to news from abroad. We hope that at least one foreign scholar will be represented in each number of Modern Drama. The activity of foreign scholars in the field of recent drama can be seen in the excellent current number of Etudes Ang/aises which is given over entirely to studies on the contemporary theatre in Great Britain and the United States. A review of this num· ber of Etudes Ang/Clises will appear in the September issue of Modern Drama. Professor Scherer's article in our opening number is the first of what we hope will be continuous contributions from abroad. In order to bring out this first number of Modem Drama many friends were victimized. To our cries for aid they have responded nobly, and this is a public aclmowledgment of the great debt we owe them. We are grateful especially to Professor Maurice Beebe, editor of Modern Fiction, who never lost patience with our many requests for help. Finally, may I remind our readers that scholarly journals must rely on library subscriptions for their existence? Please bring our quarterly to the attention of your librarian. A. C. EDWARDS ...