The history of theater is rife with tales of crime, suspense, and murder. The 19th century was no exception. Notable hallmarks of transgression drama during this century included the introduction of the melodrama, the first American musical, the debut of stage detectives, and the emergence of several hit plays focusing on real-life murderers. In this book, Kabatchnik completes his 7 volume exploration of theater’s darkest works with an overview of 50+ blood-splattered 19th century plays.