O'Casey, the Dramatist is the first study to analyse each of Sean O'Casey's plays in the context of the whole body of his work. His first plays were performed by the Abbey Theatre in Dublin until it refused The Silver Tassie, a rejection that brought about a most acrimonious debate, broke up friendships, and caused O'Casey to sever his links with the Abbey. Its directors were unable to understand the first of his experimental plays, and could not appreciate its true quality. Thence-forth O'Casey's writing developed along new lines, mostly away from his Irish roots.