Spend some time with a classic

This month marks the centenary of the birth of Tennessee Williams, and he’s certainly in the running for the title of Greatest American Playwright of the 20th Century. Sure, he’s got competition: Eugene O’Neill, Arthur Miller, maybe Edward Albee—but thanks to the way his plays also translated to the screen, we all know at least a little Williams. OK, so it might just be Brando screaming “Stella!” at the top of his lungs, or Elizabeth Taylor in that cream-colored slip, but geez, those plays have staying power, and you don’t have to be a Southerner to get the point. The Library of America has The Collected Plays of Tennessee Williams available in a lovely boxed set—yes, a tad on the pricey side, at between $50 and $60, depending on where you buy it—but it’s got all the full-length plays and a number of Williams’ one-acts, too. For the fan of American theater, this set is a must-have.