Bennett seems to be showing alarming signs of irony. I have always found that irony among the lower orders is the first sign of an awakening social consciousness. -- Henry Carr in Travesties

Stoppard is extremely difficult to paraphrase, and his plots often defy easy summary. Therefore, I have attempted to provide only the sketchiest kinds of synopses. Interested parties should seek out the published editions of his work and not rely on my necessarily vague summaries of them.

Most of Stoppard's plays are available in paperback from faber and faber. Rights and permissions for amateur performances can be obtained through Samuel French, Inc. And should you care to write to Mr. Stoppard himself, Who's Who lists his address as c/o Peters, Fraser & Dunlop, Drury House, 34-43 Russell Street, London WC2B 5HA, England. He has been known to respond to polite correspondence.

More timely Stoppard-related news items now appear on my blog. Contributions, pointers and general advice are welcome. -- Michael Berry

STAGE

• ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD (1967)
• ENTER A FREE MAN (1968)
• THE REAL INSPECTOR HOUND (1968) and AFTER MAGRITTE (1970)
• JUMPERS (1972)
• TRAVESTIES (1974)
• DIRTY LINEN and NEW-FOUND-LAND (1976)
• EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR (1977)
• NIGHT AND DAY (1978)
• DOGG'S HAMLET and CAHOOT'S MACBETH (1979)
• UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY (1979) and DALLIANCE (1986)
• ON THE RAZZLE (1981) and ROUGH CROSSING (1984)
• THE REAL THING (1982)
• HAPGOOD (1988)
• ARCADIA (1993)
• INDIAN INK (1995)
• THE INVENTION OF LOVE (1997)
• THE COAST OF UTOPIA (2002)
• ROCK 'N' ROLL (2006)

TELEVISION

• A SEPARATE PEACE (1966)
• TEETH (1966)
• ANOTHER MOON CALLED EARTH (1967)
• NEUTRAL GROUND (1968)
• THE BOUNDARY (1975)
• THREE MEN IN A BOAT (1976)
• PROFESSIONAL FOUL (1977)
• SQUARING THE CIRCLE (1984)
• POODLE SPRINGS (1998)

RADIO

• THE DISSOLUTION OF DOMINIC BOOT (1964)
• "M" IS FOR MOON AMONG OTHER THINGS (1964)
• IF YOU'RE GLAD, I'LL BE FRANK (1965)
• ALBERT'S BRIDGE (1967)
• WHERE ARE THEY NOW? (1970)
• ARTIST DESCENDING A STAIRCASE (1972)
• THE DOG IT WAS THAT DIED (1982)
• IN THE NATIVE STATE (1991)

SCREEN

• THE ROMANTIC ENGLISHWOMAN (1975)
• DESPAIR (1975)
• THE HUMAN FACTOR (1980)
• BRAZIL (1985)
• EMPIRE OF THE SUN (1987)
• THE RUSSIA HOUSE (1991)
• ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD (1990)
• BILLY BATHGATE (1991)
• SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (1998)
• ENIGMA (2000)
• VATEL (2000)
• TULIP FEVER (2004; in production)
• HIS DARK MATERIALS: THE GOLDEN COMPASS (2005; announced)

FICTION

• LORD MALQUIST & MR. MOON (1965)
• VARIOUS SHORT STORIES (1964)