Publishers: Samuel French

About this publisher’s catalog

This catalog primarily features dramatic works with a strong focus on stage plays that explore complex interpersonal dynamics and social themes. The selection blends contemporary and classic settings, often highlighting family, identity, and cultural tensions. Readers can expect a mix of serious and comedic tones across both original works and adaptations.

What you’ll often find

  • Character-driven dramas set in diverse cultural contexts, including European and American settings
  • Explorations of family relationships and personal identity through intimate storytelling
  • Works centered around the performing arts and theatrical life, reflecting backstage and creative struggles
  • Elements of mystery and suspense woven into dramatic narratives
  • Comedic plays that use farce and situational humor to engage audiences
  • Biographical and historical themes, sometimes linked to social movements or wartime experiences
  • Adaptations and pastiches that reinterpret existing stories for the stage

How to browse this shelf

  • Start by distinguishing between comedic and serious dramatic works to match your mood
  • Look for plays set in specific cultural or geographic backgrounds to explore different perspectives
  • Seek out titles that focus on the performing arts for a meta-theatrical experience
  • Browse by narrative themes such as family conflict, identity, or social change
  • Use the presence of mystery or suspense elements to find more plot-driven stories
  • Consider adaptations separately if interested in reinterpretations of known works
  • Narrow your search by tone or emotional intensity to find either lighthearted or more contemplative reads

Good fit if you like

  • Intimate, dialogue-rich storytelling with a focus on character development
  • Explorations of cultural identity and social issues through personal narratives
  • Theatrical settings and stories about artists and creative communities
  • A balance of humor and serious themes within dramatic frameworks
  • Layered plots that combine suspense with emotional depth
  • Works that invite reflection on family dynamics and interpersonal relationships

Generated from the books currently available in this catalog.

  • Whodidit? A Comedy — Neil Harrison

    Whodidit? A Comedy — Neil Harrison

  • Laying the Ghost A Play — Simon Williams

    Laying the Ghost A Play — Simon Williams

  • Strike Happy — Duncan Greenwood

    Strike Happy — Duncan Greenwood

  • Killymuck — Kat Woods

    Killymuck — Kat Woods

  • Monkey in the Stars — Jamila Gavin

    Monkey in the Stars — Jamila Gavin

  • Hoard — Bim Adewunmi

    Hoard — Bim Adewunmi

  • Moving – A Play — Hugh Leonard

    Moving – A Play — Hugh Leonard

  • Informed Consent — Deborah Zoe Laufer

    Informed Consent — Deborah Zoe Laufer

  • The Alternative A Play for Ireland — Michael Patrick

    The Alternative A Play for Ireland — Michael Patrick

  • Perfect Harmony — Andrew Grosso

    Perfect Harmony — Andrew Grosso

  • Winner Takes All A Farce — Reggie Oliver

    Winner Takes All A Farce — Reggie Oliver

  • Pirandello and Other Plays — Don Nigro

    Pirandello and Other Plays — Don Nigro

  • Extinction — Gabe McKinley

    Extinction — Gabe McKinley

  • The Public Eye A Play in Act — Peter Shaffer

    The Public Eye A Play in Act — Peter Shaffer

  • Night of the Living Dead Live — Christopher Bond

    Night of the Living Dead Live — Christopher Bond

  • Life of Riley — Alan Ayckbourn

    Life of Riley — Alan Ayckbourn

  • The Secretary Bird – A Comedy (French’s Acting Edition) — William Douglas-Home

    The Secretary Bird – A Comedy (French’s Acting Edition) — William Douglas-Home

  • Harriet Jacobs — Lydia R. Diamond

    Harriet Jacobs — Lydia R. Diamond

  • You Got Older — Clare Barron

    You Got Older — Clare Barron

  • Hooded, Or Being Black for Dummies — Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm

    Hooded, Or Being Black for Dummies — Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm