Genre is a practical guide exploring the ingredients and history of the basic elements of all dramatic narrative.

Andrew Tidmarsh is a writer, theatre director and awardwinning film-maker. He has worked with undergraduate and postgraduate writers for nearly 20 years for various institutions: Goldsmiths, University of London, Drama Centre, University of the Arts, and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He has also worked in the Philippines, Germany and Canada. He currently teaches and directs at RADA.

Introduction Chapter 1 The Building Blocks of Narrative Chapter 2 Will Versus Fate: Greek Tragedy and the Fundamentals Chapter 3 Let's See Blood: Roman Tragedy and Quentin Tarantino Chapter 4 Revenge is Sweet: Elizabethan Tragedy Chapter 5 Mashing It Up: Desperate Housewives, Jacobean Tragedy and Buffy Chapter 6 The Plate of Sardines: New Greek Comedy, Menander and Frasier Chapter 7 Archetype or Stereotype? Plautus, Comedy of Contradictions and The Sketch Show Chapter 8 Happily Ever After: Romantic Comedy from Shakespeare to Sleepless in Seattle Chapter 9 Minding Our Manners: The Country Wife and Mean Girls Chapter 10 Nothing Ever Happens: Chekhov and the Contemporary Independent Comedy Chapter 11 Arrivals and Departures: The Chivalric Romance and the Pastoral A Final Thought Appendix 1: Miscellaneous Genres and Hybrids Appendix 2: Other Theories and Other Approaches Notes