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**These books will help you understand Neil Simon's life and plays:**


====** Koprince, Susan. //Understanding Neil Simon.// Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 2002. ** This is a guide to Simon's plays and how his own life influenced his writings. It goes through his humble Jewish origins up to his status as the most commercially successful playwright in American theatre history.====



====** K onas, Gary. //Neil Simon: A Case Book.// New York: Garland Pub, 1997. ** Sixteen essays and interviews that explore the background and works of Neil Simon and the recurring themes that appear in his plays. ====



==== **Simon, Neil. //Rewrites: A Memoir.// New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996.** Neil Simon discusses his influences as well as his personal triumphs and tragedies. He also discusses phases of intense writer's block, his relationship with his family, and the passing of his wife to cancer.====



====** Johnson, Robert K. //Neil Simon.// Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1983. ** An excellent analysis and interpretation of the author's works. Includes excellent bibliographic references and insightful analysis of some of Simon's most popular plays.====



==== **Bloom, Harold. //Neil Simon.// Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2002.** This book analyzes Simon's best works including The Odd Couple, The Sunshine Boys, and Lost in Yonkers. This is going to the most valuable analysis since it was done by Harold Bloom, who is considered the best literary critic of our time.====

These books are copies of Simon's plays:
Simon, Neil. //Barefoot in the Park: A Comedy in Three Acts//. New York: Samuel French Inc., 1992.

Simon, Neil. //Brighton Beach Memoirs.// New York: Random House, 1984.

Simon, Neil. //The Collected Plays of Neil Simon.// New York: Plume, 1986. Simon, Neil. //The Good Doctor//. New York: Samuel French Inc., 2007. Simon, Neil. //Rumors.// New York: Samuel French Inc., 2010.