A Touch of the Poet

A powerful play tracking the Yankee experience from innocence to corruption, from one of the twentieth century's most significant writers.

Cornelius 'Con' Melody has fallen on hard times. After a disgrace during the Peninsular wars, he removes his wife, Nora, and daughter, Sara, from Ireland to America to start over. He buys a run-down, out-of-the-way inn – losing his fortune but not his haughtiness in the process. Constantly abusive to the diligent Nora, he invites his daughter's scorn and judgement on his inability to face up to reality. She, meanwhile, has fallen for a wealthy young Bostonian – but his father is not happy with what he sees as a totally unsuitable match, and forbids the union. His restraint, however, is more of an incentive to the lovers, and his intentions backfire spectacularly...

Eugene O'Neill's play A Touch of the Poet is the sole completed play in an ambitious cycle planned to span several generations of one American family. It was written between 1935 and 1942, and first staged at the Royal Dramatic Theatre, Stockholm, Sweden, in March 1957.

This edition of the play includes a full introduction, biographical sketch and chronology.