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I've previously read and loved Tennessee Williams' work, so when I saw this interesting title, I knew I had to pick it up. But this being a library issue, I couldn't finish it. I could only read the first 7 out of the 13 plays, but I loved most of them, and think it deserves 3.8�

This is a book of small plays, mostly one act ones, divided into various scenes. Most of the plays are characteristically poetic, however quite varied in subject and have been united only on the basis of being one act plays, perhaps, because I found no other connecting thread.
All these plays are woven around only a handful of characters, sometimes, only 2-3 of them, and sometimes include more in secondary roles and hence are very character driven.

1. 27 Wagons full of cotton- it is the first and title play of the collection and has some of the strength of A Streetcar named Desire. It tells the story of a cotton gin owner who commits arson on a factory to get more consignment and how his wife has to pay for that crime. I loved the writing and execution, I just didn't like the fact that the play ends without the husband coming to know of his wife's battery.

2. The Purification- it is a very lyrical and musical play centred on a family ravaged by incestuous passions, leading to the murder of the daughter of the family by her husband who cannot stand her brother's and hers passion for each other. The play constitutes a community trial of the husband and while the verdict is given, it appears that he evades it. The ending is quite unclear, actually.

3. The Lady of Larkspur Lotion- it reminded me of O. Henry's short stories with its conception and execution, with the high handed, emotional and dreamy use of language by the character of the aspiring author. It talks about dreamy characters who escape the realities of their lives by addiction and continue to dwell in poverty.

4. The Last of My Solid Gold Watches- it is a sad tale about a man's glorious career and life coming to an end and his inability to cope with that. But it also critiques the old generation's criticism of the new.

5. Portrait of a Madonna- it is centred on a senile, old spinster who fancies herself to have been� raped by a former lover. It again throws light on the difficulties of old age and is a good creation.

6. Auto-Da-Fé- it is the story of a mother and son, both ravaged by nervous problems, to which a mysterious letter with lewd pictures, a possibility of lawful conviction etc are added, leading to the nervous breakdown of the son, bringing doom to the household.

7. Lord Byron's Love Letter- it is about two women, a grandmother and her granddaughter, living in an old family residence that houses a love letter written by Lord Byron to the grandmother that they display to public on request, for a charge. It is hilarious in some parts, with the older woman's behaviour and a little disheartening as the couple to come to see the letter leave without paying. But the end reveals the letter to be just by her grandfather.

I'm just waiting to get my hands on it again so that I can devour the rest of the plays. Recommend it to everyone interested in drama.