These are the notes to accompany Tennessee William's "A Streetcar Named Desire". The notes trace the personal history of this prolific writer and examine how the events of his life contributed to the power of his play. They also discuss the play's stage directions, the dialogue and the symbolism. York Notes are designed for GCSE and A Level students, but they also provide background information for first-year university students. The series covers major works from medieval to modern English literature, and classic and contemporary works from Europe, America, the Commonwealth and the Third World. Each book features a biography of the author; the literary and historical background to the work; a summary and glossary of the text; hints for study, to help students plan work and study effectively; a specimen essay; and suggestions for further reading.