This volume is not intended for the wider reading public, who choose a book to enjoy in their leisure time. It is a practical aid for students and teachers engaged in the study of acting, which identifies the peaks of roles/characters in each theatrical work.

The texts are excerpts from the whole to which they belong and serve as a springboard for the study of each role. Moreover, since most texts are printed in books, the next step for every interested party should be a careful reading of the entire work.

This volume includes excerpts from the works of the leading foreign playwrights from the Renaissance to the present day. Criteria for their selection included the recognizability of the creator and the distinctive style that makes each work an object of further study. Each excerpt has, as much as possible, theatrical and semantic completeness.

In cases where a compilation has been made, this is indicated with brackets [...] to show the point from which lines have been removed for the sake of theatrical economy. (from the foreword by Henri Bellier)