Modern Tragedy, first published in 1966, is a study of the ideas and ideologies which have influenced the production and analysis of tragedy. Williams sees tragedy both in terms of literary tradition and in relation to the tragedies of modern society, of revolution and disorder, and of individual experience.

Modern Tragedy is available only in this Broadview Encore Edition, now edited and with a critical introduction by Pamela McCallum.

Raymond Williams' profile page

Pamela McCallum is a professor of English at the University of Calgary. She was one of the founding members of the editorial group for Cultural Critique at the University of Minnesota, and she is currently editor of the journal ARIEL: A Review of International English Literature. Her research is focused around questions of representation, mainly in narrative, but sometimes in other cultural texts, such as film and the visual arts. She has written on Montreal artist Dominique Blain's installations and on the Vancouver artist Landon Mackenzie's paintings.

Pamela McCallum's profile page

“A serious, unorthodox book on a much vexed subject. … Is tragedy an event in our lives, or a literary form, or a body of dogma? Williams’ analysis here is especially fine.” — New Society

“An impassioned, powerful book…splendid.” — The Guardian