About: Lionel Abel

Lionel Abel (28 November 1910- 19 April 2001, in Manhattan, New York) was an eminent Jewish American playwright, essayist and theater critic. He was also a translator, and was an authorized translator of Jean-Paul Sartre, who called Abel the most intelligent man in New York City. His first success was a tragedy, Absalom, staged off-Broadway in 1956 and winner of the Obie award. It was followed by three other works of drama, before he turned to criticism. He is best known for coining the term metatheatre in his book of the same title. He was one of the signers of the Humanist Manifesto II.